Carers

Are you looking after someone who cannot manage without your help?

A carer is someone who provides unpaid help to a relative, partner, neighbour or friend.

The person may need help for a number of reasons:

• their age
• they have a physical disability
• they have learning disability
• they have an illness either physical or mental
• they have an addiction.

This help may include tasks such as washing and dressing, managing money, cooking, housework, shopping, washing and ironing clothes.

If this describes you, you are one of the estimated 40,000 carers living in Dorset (six million across the whole country). A range of support and information is available to you:

• are you registered as a carer with your GP practice? If not, register
• have you had a carers assessment? If not, contact the Adult Access Team at Dorset County council on 01305 221016. They who will be able to tell you what to do next
• are you member of a local carers’ support group? The Carers section of the Dorset For You website has information about support available across Dorset. There you will find further links to details of a number of organisation providing carer support both nationally and across Dorset, plus information about each individual locality in the county
• Carers Direct provides a wide range of information to help you in your caring role, including advice on keeping yourself well. They can also be contacted by phone on 0808 802 0202. Calls to this number are free from all mobile networks as well as landline and, if necessary they will phone you back at a time convenient to you. They are open 8am – 9pm Mon-Fri, and 11am – 4pm at weekends.

Dorset Carers Strategy

The Dorset Carers Strategy was drawn up by Dorset County Council, NHS Dorset, voluntary organisations and carers. Carers were asked how they would like to see services developed and a comprehensive action plan was drawn up as a result.

The strategy was first launched in June 2006, but was revised in 2009 in line with the new national strategy - Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities (2008). There has subsequently been a refresh of the national strategy - Recognised, valued and supported: next steps for the Carers Strategy, which will be reflected in updates to the Dorset plan.

Dorset County Council and NHS Dorset jointly and individually commission services to support carers, within their own organisations and with the Third Sector.