Support for carers, family and friends

As things are changing constantly as a result of Coronavirus, please contact our Carers Centre for more information. The centre can be contacted on 01604 616125, and a support line is available Monday to Friday 9am-6pm.

  
We value the insights of family, friends and carers and the role they can play in supporting patients. We want to do our best to support you and to find out your views on our services and the help we can give you. 

Our vision is that carers, families and friends are valued, recognised and involved as partners in care. We understand the importance of listening and communicating effectively with you, and will support you in maintaining your wellbeing.

We have a Carers, Families and Friends Strategy Monitoring Group which involves staff, carers and members of the community. For meeting dates and more information about this group please contact us.
  

Sources of support

  
Being the relative or friend of someone in mental healthcare can be worrying and stressful, and you may need emotional support or help with health and money issues. There are a number of sources of support for you:

Information from St Andrew's

As a carer you will be given information about:

• Mental health problems
• Where to get more information
• Different treatments for mental health problems
• Services for people with mental health problems
• What to do if you are worried about the person you care for
• Who to contact in an emergency
• How to manage mental health problems at difficult times
• Specific information for forensic carers, if appropriate

Carer's assessment

Your local authority can run an assessment to see what support you need and will work with you to help you avoid becoming stressed or unwell.

Even if the person you are caring for does not want any help you can still have a carer’s assessment that can help you to balance your caring with other parts of your life.

Duties and powers as a carer: The Care Act 2014

The Care Act creates a single, consistent route to establishing an entitlement to public care and support for all adults with needs for care and support. It also creates the first ever entitlement to support for carers, on a similar basis.

> Care Act: Fact Sheets

Carers Trust

Carers Trust work to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring, unpaid, for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems.

With locally based Network Partners, Carets Trust are able to support carers in their homes through the provision of replacement care, and in the community with information, advice, emotional support, hands on practical help and access to much needed breaks.

They offer specialist services for carers of people of all ages and conditions and a range of individually tailored support and group activities - click here to visit their website.

Other useful links

Mental healthcare terms and what they mean > Glossary of terms

The Mental Health Act and you > Key information