Information & Advice

Telephone Support

We offer telephone support to all Carers who are referred to the service.  Many Carers benefit from just off loading how they are feeling.  We would also call out to see the carer again if they requested.

Advocacy

Carers sometimes request support at informal meetings regarding the care for the person they are caring for.  It may be that they just want someone to give them the confidence to ask questions or to help them put their point of view across to the professional.

Representational Advocacy

Advocacy is about enabling people to either ‘speak up’ for themselves and/or having someone else to speak on their behalf. Adult service users and their carers can benefit from the services of an independent ‘Representational Advocacy Worker’. The Citizens Advice Bureau runs a free and confidential scheme independent of the Social Care & Health Department. You can contact them direct, via Social Care & Health or your local Carers Centre. You can contact the Representational Advocacy Scheme on Telephone No: 0191 383 0568.

Information & Advice

Following a home visit with the carer or a specific request from a carer, the support worker will gather together all the relevant information that will benefit the carer.  Ongoing information and advice is also offered so please feel free to call us with anything you would like us to obtain information about to assist you in your caring role.

Assistance in gaining services

By giving the carer appropriate information about services that are available, they are then in a position to make an informed choice about the help that they need.  We have a close working relationship with Social Care & Health and now conduct an initial Carers Assessment of Carers Needs, if requested.  This information is then passed directly to the Social Care & Health Carers Assessment worker who will follow up our referral and if possible act on the needs, which we have identified.  With the carers permission we also will contact the Care Manager who is in contact with the person being cared for to inform them of any needs that they may be able to address e.g.. increasing the respite care provision.  We also will approach relevant health professionals if appropriate to ensure that the carers needs are being addressed.

WELFARE REFORM

The new government is introducing a series of welfare reforms.  The stated intentions are to reform the benefit system to make it fairer, more affordable and better able to tackle poverty, worklessness and welfare dependency.  Many of the proposals are still to be introduced but the following changes will most directly impact on Carers (and in some cases the people that they are caring for).  

Universal Credit

The Universal Credit will replace most of the means-tested benefits and tax credits that are currently paid to people.  It is due to be introduced from 2013 onwards.  Although it is not intended to replace Carers Allowance, the Government is considering whether changes will be necessary to take account of the introduction of Universal Credit and provide clearer, more effective support for Carers.

Incapacity Benefit - Employment and Support Allowance

These benefits are paid to people that are classed as being too sick to work.  From October a new Work Capability Assessment is being piloted in 2 areas prior to national implementation.  It is expected that the outcome of these reassessments will be more current Incapacity Benefit claimants being assessed as either capable of work or obligated to engage with pathway to work advisers if assessed as having limited capability for work.  In addition, contributory Employment Support Allowance (based on National Insurance Contributions) will in future only be payable for one year rather than for an indefinite period.

Disability Living Allowance

DLA is a non-means-tested benefit paid to people with severe mobility problems or significant care or supervisory needs.  The Governments intention is to reassess everyone of working age on DLA, under a new "gateway".  People who receive DLA will not be affected by a number of  the other welfare reforms. Recipients are not subject to housing benefit deductions when they have non-dependants living with them, and it is also planned to exempt them from planned Benefit Cap (which will limit households maximum weekly benefit income - including help with housing costs to about £500 per week).