Support for Carers

A carer is someone who provides regular unpaid help and support to another person. It does not include those who volunteer as part of a group or organisation. This might be helping someone with paperwork and financial matters, housework, shopping, assisting with medication or other personal care needs such as keeping clean and fresh, preparing and eating meals or getting out and about.

Carers can be any age, including children and young people, and from any background. Being a carer is very rewarding but it can be hard work as well.

Useful Local and National Organisations

Here are some local organisations who could talk to you about being a carer.

Adult Carer Support -  Making Space, who support adult carers of adults.  Making Space can support people in a caring role, helping to enable carers to be connected in their community. Call 01302 986900 or e-mail DoncasterCarers@makingspace.co.uk

Doncaster Parent Voice Parent Carer Forum – The parent carer forum is a group of parents and carers of disabled children who work with local authority, education, health and other providers to make sure the services they plan and deliver meet the needs of disabled children and families. Please call 01302 637566  / email dpvoice@doncastercarers.org.uk

Doncaster Partnership for Carers aim to support people in their caring role and their personal development by giving them the tools and resources to ensure they are looking after their own health and wellbeing as well as the person they care for. Please call 01302 637566 / email dpfc@doncastercarers.org.uk 

Young Carers Young Carers Service supports Young Carers (now in-house within Learning and Opportunities Children and Young People). The Young Carer Service supports young carers to be recognised in their role and to have the same opportunities and life chances as other children and young people of a similar age. For information, advice and guidance please call: 01302 736099 or email: Young.Carers@doncaster.gov.uk

You might also find it useful to look at

  • Your Life Doncaster – Find information and advice, search for local groups and activities for support and buy products and services to help you maintain your independence. 

If you want more information about the illness or condition of the person you care for you should try NHS Direct website for information that has been checked out and approved. If you want to find out about your other rights as a carer or what happens in other parts of the country, or to just make contact with carers across the UK you should try: 

Carers Assessments

Any carer who looks like they might benefit should be offered an assessment. It should identify any help needed to maintain your own wellbeing. If you are offered an assessment it is ok to say ‘no thanks’. It is also ok to change your mind later if it is offered again or you could ask for one in the future by making contact with the number below.

An assessment gives you the opportunity to find out if there is any help available now and to make some plans for the future. It will help you to get any support you need to stay in work or education or to let you also look after any children you may have.

What will happen at the assessment?

Like so many things it does involve some ‘form filling’. You can do most of this for yourself (using the form below the questions) if you want or you can wait for a professional to come and fill it in with you. However you choose to do it there will be a professional there to help you work out what, if anything, is needed. They will help you to find out what is already available in your community.

Will there be any charge?

There is no charge for a Carers Assessment.

What happens after the assessment?

After the assessment, you will be encouraged to develop an action plan with your assessment worker to help you meet your outcomes e.g. making use of necessary facilities or services in the local community, including recreational facilities.

How to arrange an assessment?

You should speak to the social worker dealing with the person you care for if they have one.

 

Carers Assessment Form
Download (1.17MB)

Doncaster Carers' Charter

Informal carers are vital to those they care for, and we recognise the need to ensure that carers know they are carers and can find the right support and guidance when they really need it. Key partners in Health and Social Care in Doncaster have signed our 'Carers' Charter' which is our commitment to supporting carers in our town. Download the Carers Charter

Doncaster Carers Strategy 2015 – 2020

Doncaster Council is coordinating a partnership of local groups and organisations to implement our local carers strategy.

Other useful links:

Last updated: 25 January 2019 13:01:40