Carers Page

There are over 34,500 unpaid carers in Sefton - Are you one of them?

If you are a carer it is important to let your GP/Nurse or reception team know so that we can add it to your records, you can do this by completing our 'carer's questionnaire' - You can return this form to the surgery or you can email the completed form to us: gp.n84020@nhs.net

' A carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or   friends who could not manage without this help due to illness, disability,   mental ill-health or an alcohol or drug problem '

Am I a carer?

Do you care for an elderly parent or frail family member?

Do you care for a child with a disability or additional?

Do you look after someone who is seriously ill?

Do you look after someone who is dependent on drugs or alcohol?

Do you support someone living with mental illness?

Do you care for someone living with dementia?

Do you care for an adult with a long term condition?

If you answered YES to any of the above then you are a carer

Local help

Are you aware of the Sefton Carer Centre, 27-27 South Road, Waterloo?

Drop in clinics: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9:30am-4:30pm

Telephone 0151 288 6060 or Online

How can Sefton Carers Centre help you?

If you are a carer who lives in Sefton we can offer you free services and can help you by:

• Undertaking an assessment of your needs as a carer to
• Providing information and emotional support - someone to
• Organising support groups, activities, training & fun days to allow you to socialise and  recharge your batteries
• Letting your voice be heard at our Carers Action Group

We can also:

• Help you understand your rights as a carer
• Support you at meetings & reviews
• Help with forms and writing letters

What else can we provide:

• Welfare benefits advice
• Complementary therapies & counselling
• Training for care, leisure & employment
• Direct Payment Support Service
• Advocacy services for all carers including specialist

Further information

Online Access: 

• GP online services for carers, including young carers - A guide to using GP online services for the person you care for.
• Giving employed carers access to your GP online services - A guide to allowing access to your medical record for your carer.

Your GP:

• Letting your GP know that you are a carer - It is very important to let your GP practice know that you are a carer, we can offer support and signpost you to services who can help.

Financial and legal help:

• Benefits for carers – Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role.
• Benefits for the person you care for – Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to.
• Death and benefits – How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits.
• Managing someone’s legal affairs – Advice for when carers find they have to take over the legal affairs of the person they are looking after.
• Other Benefits – Advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring.
• Personal and Household Finance – Advice on keeping a tight rein on household and personal finance for carers.
• Social Fund – How to pay for care and support, and where you can get help with costs.
• Help Lines and Forums – Information on claiming tax credits and whether you might be eligible.

Housing:

• Care services, equipment and care homes - Are you considering a care home? or looking for a carer to visit you at home? Maybe you are looking for adaptations within your home to help you?

Mental Health: 

• Supporting yourself while caring for someone - Mental health problems of carers include emotional stress, depressive symptoms and, in some cases, clinical depression. 
• Caring for someone with a mental health problem - You may be caring for someone with a physical health problem, a mental health problem, or both. For mental health problems, you may face slightly different or additional challenges.
• Dementia - You may be caring for someone with dementia - The Blundellsands Surgery displays information on notice boards, within the reception area about Dementia friendly events and activities taking place within the local community. Please feel free to come in to surgery to access this information.  

Young Carers: 

• Support for young carers - You may be a child who has the responsibility of looking after a friend or a family member. 
• Support with education for young carers - Are you struggling to keep up with school work? or Feel you are being bullied at school?