Are you a carer?
Date updated: 26/11/2024
Do you provide unpaid help and support to a partner, relative, friend or neighbour who could not manage without your help, due to age, physical or mental health issues, substance misuse or disability? If you answered 'yes', then you are a carer and there may be support available for you.
As a carer you will probably care for:
- a person with disabilities
- someone who needs suppor with their mental health or learning difficulties
- someone recovering from a recent illness or injury
- someone with a long-term illness
- a person with age-related difficulties
- and more
There are different kinds of carer.
- Adult carer - you are an adult that looks after another adult. You might provide help to a relative, a friend, or aneighbour.
- Parent carer - you are a parent that takes care of a child with a special educational need or disability (SEND) for whom you have responsibility.
- Young carer - you are under 18 years old and take care for someone else - they might be a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem.
You might support them through:
- Emotional support like listening and talking.
- Household chores like cleaning, cooking, washing, ironing or shopping.
- Medication support such as picking up medication, reminding about medication, or physically helping someone with tablets or creams.
- Personal care like help with eating, getting to the toilet, washing and dressing.
- Physical care ensuring the person can move around their home, accompanying them to appointments or social activities.
- Appointments and social activities
- and more
A carer is unpaid and is not employed or a volunteer.
Carer's Assessments
If you are an adult carer, request a Carer's Assessment from the Adult Social Care team.
If you are a parent carer, request a Parent Carer's Needs Assessment from the Children and Families team.
If you are a young carer, request an Early Help Assessment from the Children and Families team.