Are you caring for someone with a long-term health condition? Our Care Co-Ordinator, Rachel Rafferty, is our Carers Lead and can advise on a wide variety of carer related subjects and help to signpost you to local Carer Support Services. Please ask if you would like to make contact, email chgp.carers@dorsetgp.nhs.uk or fill in a CRISP registration form to be added our Carer’s Register. Regular meetings are held for all those who are carers for our patients.
As a carer you may be entitled to:
- A Carer’s assessment from Social Services. If you are undertaking a substantial amount of care on a regular basis. This assessment is free and is open to all carers regardless of financial circumstances. You will get information and advice about caring and be able to find out about services including help to with personal care, day care, short-term sitting and respite care, equipment and home adaptations, emergency schemes, Blue Badges for parking and carers groups events. Contact the Social Service Department where the cared for person lives to ask for an assessment. For those living in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole contact the Adult Social Care Contact Centre on 01202 123654.
- Benefits for Carer/Cared for person. Some benefits depend on your savings and income others are unaffected by your financial position. We strongly recommend that you contact the appropriate agency to see if you/the cared for are entitled to any financial assistance. Many people miss out on benefits because they do not know what they are entitled to. For further information and relevant contact numbers visit www.gov.uk/check-benefits-financial or call Citizens Advice BCP on 0808 278 7939.
- General Carer’s information and someone to talk to. CRISP (Carers Resource Information Programme) is BCP Council’s Carer Support Service. (If you want to find out about how Council carers services work/be referred for a Carers Assessment/join their Carer Information Service/find out about their Carers In Crisis Scheme/their Beach Huts/Social events or details of local carer support groups etc., you can talk to a member of the CRISP Team. The service is confidential. If you just need someone to talk to about your situation the CRISP team will try to help and reassure you, their telephone number is 01202 128787
- As a registered carer with the practice, we aim to do our utmost to support you. You are entitled to an annual free influenza vaccination, regardless of your age. We try to offer flexible appointments to fit with your caring responsibilities. Provide you with assistance, if needed, with our Online Services and we aim to give you an annual Carers Wellbeing Review telephone call. If the person you care for is a patient with us, we can share their medical information with you, with the appropriate consents. If you have a care contingency plan, details of your contingency contacts (the names /contact telephone numbers of those who would step in, if you were unable to fulfil your caring role for any reason) can be added to your record and the record of the person you care for. There is also a regularly updated ‘Carers Point’ in the surgery waiting room, which displays useful information, advice, and details of upcoming carers events. Regular Carers Group meetings are held for all those who are carers for our patients, they take place at Canford Heath Library on the last Wednesday of the month, between 2.30-4pm. If you would like more information please contact Rachel, as above, or just come along and our Group Leader will be sure to give you a warm welcome.
Our Carers Lead is Rachel Rafferty. Please do not hesitate to contact her on 01202 772540 or chgp.carers@dorsetgp.nhs.uk.
There is a wealth of information on NHS Choices about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.
- Telling people
Caring responsibilities can make it difficult to maintain friendships or develop new ones. Telling your friends you're a carer is important so they understand and can support you.
- Taking a break
Caring for someone can be a full-time job, but it's essential that you take time out for yourself too. Read our guide to accessing breaks and respite.
- Housing and carers
Do you know your tenancy rights as a carer? Are you aware of all your care at home options? Do you need tips on moving someone around the home?
Finance and Law
Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.
- Benefits for carers
Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role
- Benefits for the person you care for
Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to
- Death and benefits
How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits
- Managing someone's legal affairs
Advice for when carers find they have to take over the legal affairs of the person they are looking after
- Other benefits
Advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring
- Personal and household finance
Advice on keeping a tight rein on household and personal finance for carers
- Social fund
- Tax credits
Information on claiming tax credits and whether you might be eligible
Latest Crisp Newsletter: CRISP Carers Newsletter - January and February 2024 (mailchi.mp)