Support for carers
Anyone who helps with the necessary care needs of a friend or relative who is unable to live independently without their help, without pay for their services, is a carer.
Are you a carer or do you know someone who is?
Many of us will look after a relative, friend, sick partner or disabled family member at some point in our lives. Often people do not think of themselves as carers at all but see what they are doing as part of their role as, for example, mother, husband, wife, son or friend.
Shropshire Council is committed to supporting carers in their caring role and may be able to help in a range of ways: from signposting to groups or sources of help and support in the community through to carrying out an assessment of the carers own needs (a Carers Assessment) which gives the carer a chance to discuss any help they might need to maintain their own health and balance caring with their own life, work and family.
Information and Support for carers
Shropshire Carers Support is a dedicated Carer Support team, within Shropshire Council, providing individual information, advice and support to carers. We are not a time limited service and may be working with individual carers for a short time or for longer periods of time, or carers may dip in and out of our service depending on their individual needs. Carers can self-refer or referrals are made via statutory, voluntary and community sector organisations.
You can contact the Shropshire Carers team by either:
- Telephone: 01743 341995 (Mon-Fri 9.00am till 5.00pm)
- Email: Shropshire.Carers@shropshire.gov.uk
Shropshire Carers Support have developed a Carers Register to share relevant, up to date information with carers via a method that suits the carer best. On enrolment to the Register carers will also receive a Carers ID/emergency card, an emergency plan to complete and an optional carer email course from Mobilise, Shropshire. Find more information on the Carer Register and to join here
Shropshire Council has commissioned Mobilise Shropshire to deliver a digital carer support service alongside the Shropshire Carers Support team.
Mobilise Online offer includes:
- An online network of people caring for others
- Individual support from a carers coach
- Daily live discussion groups in our online Cuppas for Carers
- Simple online tools to help at each stage of the caring journey
- A comprehensive online library of information and resources developed by carers for carers
Carers in an emergency situation
Carers in an emergency situation, that affects their caring responsibilities, are advised to contact Shropshire Council’s First Point of Contact – 03456 789044 during office hours and the Emergency Duty Team - 03456 789040 for emergencies out of office hours.
How to identify someone who is providing care?
Many carers remain unaware of the sources of help and support available to them.
Often, carers are likely to be known by health services first either because of the health needs of the person they care for or their own health needs. Improving the identification and referral of carers by primary health care professional will contribute to improving the lives of carers.
If you identify a person who is providing substantial care on a regular basis 'to a family member, friend or neighbour' on an unpaid basis follow these steps:
Step One: Inform the person that they can get information, advice and support to help them in their caring role and they can ask for an assessment of their needs. Provide details of Shropshire Carers Support and Mobilise so that carers are able to access information and support tailored to their individual needs earlier. Check if they have already received a Carers Assessment. If not, carry on to step 2. If they have had a Carers Assessment, but their circumstances or the circumstances of their cared for, have changed, go to step 2.
Step Two: Explain that they can ring the Shropshire Council First Point of Contact on 0345 678 9044 where they will be guided through sources of help and if appropriate, referred for a Carers Assessment to their area Adult Social Care Team
Useful links for carers
To find out more about support for carers see:
Emergency contacts for carers
Shropshire Council's First Point of Contact
Telephone: 03456 789044 (during office hours and the Emergency Duty Team) or
Telephone: 03456 789040 (for emergencies out of office hours)
Website: First Point of Contact
Contact the Shropshire Carers team
You can contact the Shropshire Carers team by either:
Telephone: 01743 341995 (Mon-Fri 9.00am till 5.00pm)