Support for Carers

Employment Support within the Carers’ Information and Support Service (CISS) is to offer support to carers’ who are balancing their caring role and employment.

The focus of this is to offer carers’ the access to support, information, and advice they require by taking a flexible approach around appointments and the way we communicate; this is carried out over the telephone, face to face appointments, at multiple sites across the city or within your own workplace. Our Employment Support Worker also attends Health and Wellbeing Events within the workplace to raise awareness of unpaid carers and also promote the information, advice and support available.

The Carers Information and Support Service (CISS) works with Hull Adult Social Care.

The team’s primary focus is on the needs of the carer, keeping them well and enabling them to live their life while undertaking a caring role. The team will be able to support carers with the following:

• Carer's Needs Assessment
• Carer's Reviews
• Carer Break Funding
• Information and advice
• Signposting and referral to other services
• Listening ear
• Pee Support groups
• Emergency planning

More information on CISS services here (Opens in a new window)

Alternatively, you can contact them via –

• email: chcp.carersinfo@nhs.net (Opens in a new window)
• telephone: 01482 22 22 20

Drop-in service:(9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday)

Calvert Centre

110a Calvert Lane

Hull

HU4 6BH

A Carer's Needs Assessment concentrates on the needs of the carer and the support needed to continue in their caring role. It looks at how caring impacts on the carer's wellbeing and if they are willing and able to continue caring. The Care Act 2014 gives carers the same recognition as the person they care for.

All carers are able to have an assessment of their needs regardless of their financial means or the level of support they provide. If the person who is being cared for does not want an assessment in their own right, the carer can still have an assessment of their needs.

More information on Carers Assessments here

When completing the Carer's Needs Assessment, the carer will be able to consider the different types of services and support available that will help meet their needs.

If you wish to complete the Carers’ Assessment, the easiest way is to contact the Carers Information and Support Service via –

• email: chcp.carersinfo@nhs.net (Opens in a new window)
• telephone: 01482 22 22 22

Carer’s Card

If you are a carer you can now benefit from a Carer Card; a card which officially identifies you as a carer and that should be carried by you at all times. There is no charge for the card.

The card has two main purposes -

1. To notify emergency services that someone you are responsible for needs support, should something happen to you.  
   
   
2. To get you discounted access to local health and wellbeing services, as well as with selected local shops and businesses. 

More information on Carers Card’s here

Carer’s allowance

Carer’s allowance is a taxable benefit for people aged 16 or over whom spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone. The person they care for must be receiving disability living allowance at the middle or highest rate of the care component, or attendance allowance.

More information about carer’s allowance

Council Tax benefits

Carers may have access to the following benefits –

• Council tax and housing benefit
• Council tax - the carer's discount

You may be entitled to a reduction in your council tax bill if you look after someone who:

• Receives the higher or middle rate of the Care Component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or receives Attendance Allowance
• Is cared for by you for a minimum of 35 hours per week*
• Is not your spouse or partner
• Is over 18
• Lives with you

More information on Council Tax reduction here

If you receive Carer's Allowance (previously known as Invalid Care Allowance) you have already proven you care for more than 35 hours per week.

Other benefits

Attendance Allowance - Paid to people who are over 65 and have health problems and care needs.
Personal Independent Payment - Paid to people disabled before the age of 65.
Other means-tested benefits include -

• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit
• Pension Credit

A carer's premium is included in these benefits for people who are entitled to Carer's Allowance. This includes people who would be paid Carer's Allowance but do not get paid because of the overlapping benefit rule.

Alternatively, you can contact them via –

• email: info@welfarerights.net (Opens in a new window)
• telephone: 01387 266 888

You can register your details with your GP so that your notes are tagged to indicate that you are a carer. The person you care for can also register your details with their GP’s to inform them that the person has a carer.

This helps your GP to be are aware of your caring responsibilities and the potential impact on your own health and take account of your needs as a carer when trying to arrange appointment times that fit in with your caring responsibilities.

Complete this form and hand it, or send it to your GP’s Surgery, who will record in your notes that you are a carer:

GP carer registration form (Opens in a new window)

Carers UK

Carers UK offer advice and guidance on all issues relating to caring for someone. They also offer a support system where you can talk to other carers in the network.

Access their advice and services information here (Opens in a new window)

Download their ‘looking after somebody’ guide for carers (PDF, 1.3mb) (Opens in a new window)

Alternatively, you can contact their advice line on the on 08088 087 777.

Message in a Bottle

The bottle scheme is a simple idea designed to encourage people to keep their personal and medical details on a standard form and in a common location - the fridge.
The kit comprises of:

• A plastic bottle
• An information sheet
• Two stickers (one for the inside of your front door and one for your fridge door) to inform the emergency services that there is a 'message in a bottle' in the house
• The information sheet is completed and sealed in the plastic bottle which is then put in the door of the fridge.
• The emergency services will know to look for it. They will locate the bottle and pass it on to a doctor or hospital personnel in an emergency

If you would like to receive a free message in a bottle contact the Lions Club International British Isles via -

• email: miabcenorder@lions.org.uk (Opens in a new window)
• telephone: 01214 414 544

Online and mobile App to Support Carers (Jointly)

Developed by Carers UK, Jointly is an innovative mobile and online app that is designed by carers for carers. It makes caring easier, less stressful and more organised by making communication and coordination between those who share the care as easy as a text message.

You can create a circle of care for the person you are looking after. Once you have set up your Jointly circle you can start using Jointly to organise care.

You can use it on your own or you can invite other people to join you and share the care.
Jointly works on iPhone, iPad and Android devices and on most modern web browsers (home computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets and so on

Find out more about the Jointly here (Opens in a new window)

Carers Trust

Carers Trust is a national organisation of carers support services with a network of independently managed centres across the UK. The centres provide a range of services, including –

• information and advice on benefits
• care and access to services
• advocacy
• support and practical help for carers

Carers Trust believes in a world where the role and contribution of unpaid carers is recognised and they have access to the quality support and services they need to live their own lives.

They also offer help and support on a wide range of topics relating to caring.

Visit the Carers Trust website (Opens in a new window)

You can contact them via –

• email at info@carerssupportcentre.com (Opens in a new window)
• telephone on 01652 650 585