Health & Social Care

A Carer is someone who, without payment, cares for someone else, who because of illness, disability, or infirmity, cannot manage without help.

The person being cared for may be a partner, spouse, child, other relative, neighbour or friend.

Carers can be any age or gender. They can be found in all communities.

What are your entitlements as a Carer

As a carer you will be entitled to an assessment if you provide or intend to provide regular and substantial amounts of care.
You will also be able to contribute to the assessment of the person you care for, although if they refuse this assessment you are still entitled to a carers assessment in your own right.

What is a Carers Assessment

A Carers Assessment is your opportunity to talk about the things that could make life easier for you and look at what would be helpful in your situation. It isn't about testing you as a carer.  An assessment may take into account:

• The help the person you care for needs
• The help you are giving at the moment
• The impact of caring on your health and opportunities for work, education, training or leisure activities
• Any cultural ,spiritual, gender lifestyle or other needs you may have
• What support we can give you as a carer, if you are eligible.

Regular and Substantial amounts of Care

Regular and substantial amounts of care is where a carer provides personal and physical help through a range of helping activities - approx 20 hours or more a week.  You should tell the person who makes the assessment if:

• Your caring role is substantial
• Your caring role involves more supervision, emotional support and responsibility for somebody with mental health issues.
• This includes people who care for someone who misuses drugs or alcohol.
• You are a young carer.
• Your caring role is less than 20 hours per week but intensive, or other family members or friends contribute to that level of care.
• There is a risk to your caring role not being kept up.

• Carers UK
• Crossroads
• North Staffs Carers Association
• Carers Information