- 8 minutes |
- January 31, 2024
We are here to help you
Although caring can be deeply rewarding it can also be time-consuming, emotionally draining and physically tiring. Being an unpaid carer can prevent you from having time for yourself, looking after your needs or accessing work or further education.
We are here to help carers deal with the challenges they face and to maintain a quality of life around caring.
We support carers living in Solihull or who care for someone who lives in the borough.
Who is an unpaid Carer?
Many carers don’t realise that they are carers, they often think that they are just looking after family or a friend, it’s what they should do or is expected of them.
If you care unpaid, for a family member or friend who couldn’t manage without your help, you are probably a carer. You could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who Couldn’t manage without your help due to their care needs.
- Someone in my house has a disability, illness or is dependent on drug/alcohol, and because of this they need help from me to do things
- I visit someone everyday/most days of the week to ensure they are safe and well and have everything they need to maintain their independence.
- Sometimes I do extra household jobs when the person who has an illness, disability or is dependent on drugs or alcohol is having difficulty doing them
- Sometimes when this person is having a bad day, I will need to stay with them to maintain their safety and wellbeing.
- Sometimes I have to cancel planned activities with family and friends as I am unable to leave this person on their own.
- I help this person get in and out of bed or around the house or I help this person with their personal care as they struggle to manage this themselves.
- If I did not do the things I do to help the person who has a disability or illness they would not be able to cope or would not be safe at home without me.
Parent carers
We are one of the few areas that offer support to parent carers.
Our dedicated support planning service for parents will enable you to take a step back, look at your caring role and explore and access support that is personal to you and the areas of your life that might be affected by caring.
Our support for carers
1:1 Emotional Support
A listening ear when you need one, you can call us on 0121 788 1143 and speak to one of our team.
Events and Activities
It is important for carers to have a break from caring. We offer a range of events and activities which provide much needed time out for carers. The range on offer is based on what carers say they would like so we deliver everything from relaxation sessions to trips to national trust properties and days out to the seaside. The person you care for can also attend some of the activities. Please refer to our online calendar to find out more.Information and Advice
Although caring can be deeply rewarding, it can also consume a lot of time and energy emotionally and physically. Support Workers are available to help and advise you.
The Carers Identity Card is a handy tool for carers. It has 3 main functions
- Quick access to emergency contacts
- Proof of being a carer
- Concessions and free entry to providers
You can use this for telephone numbers of whom to contact in an emergency and to alert others you are caring for someone who may need help back at home.
Concessions
Please call and check concessions in case the venue has changed its policy. If anything on our list is wrong, please let us know.
- Training delivered in person and online
We listen to what our carers need and want and design training that accommodates this. The events programme is reviewed regularly and carers registered with us are encouraged to feedback on what we offer and make suggestions.
Some examples of the training we deliver;
- Contingency Planning
- Wills and Power of Attorney
- First Aid
Visit our Whats On page for more information.
Carers Assessments and Support Plans
This free service is all about getting you the help you need; it is a supportive process, where our staff will listen to you without judgement and will support you in the best possible way. You will have the chance to discuss your caring role and find out what help is available and how to access it. The support plan produced will identify the needs from the assessment and plan what is needed and how this can be done. For some carers it is a much needed lifeline as it puts their needs on track.Our trained befrienders are here for you.
Befrienders are friendly and non-judgmental, ready to listen and help. This service is an opportunity for you to regularly check in with a matched volunteer to discuss anything on your mind. Befrienders can help you achieve personal goals, source local activities and help navigate services. They can also support you to build confidence and skills or give you the time to be heard.
carers stories
There are around seven million carers in the UK, that’s one in ten people. It is estimated that three in five people will be carers at some point in their lives.
Here is a selection of stories from carers sharing their experiences of caring. If you’re a carer and would like to share your story please contact us. centre@solihullcarers.org
- 6 minutes |
- January 23, 2024
UB Healthcare makes us their charity of the year
- 3 minutes |
- December 3, 2023
Our Annual Stakeholder Event 2023
faq's
What does it mean to be an unpaid carer?
An unpaid carer is anyone looking after a family member, friend or neighbour who needs help. They might have an illness, disability, physical or mental health problem, or addiction. A carer does not need to be living with the person they care for. Anybody can become a carer at any time in their life. Someone can be a carer for more than one person at a time. Carers can be any age, from young children to older people.What can you do for me as a carer?
We recognise that all carers are unique and your caring role will also be unique. We offer a range of support services that you can access. You can have an assessment, support over the phone, talk to a befriender, attend our events, activities or training. This support is totally up to you to take part in. you will also be issued a carers card that will help others understand you are a carer. It can also be used in an emergency and some places offer carer concessions for free or at a reduced cost. The card will verify you are a carer.
You can find a concession list here.
What help can I get for the person I look after?
We only support unpaid carers registered with us. We don’t support the person you look after however, we will be able to signpost and give you information to access services that can help.
How do I plan for an emergency?
What is planning for the future when you have a caring role? How can you start preparing for your loved ones if you can no longer offer support yourself? We offer Contingency Planning, a workshop or one-to-one session that will give you key practical information and guidance to create a personalised plan that suits and fits your needs. This will be invaluable if you were unable to continue your caring role on a short term or long-term basis.Will you share my information with someone else?
In line with the Data Protection regulations that came into force in May 2018, we will never share identifiable information without your consent, including names, contact details, bank details or medical information. The only exception will be if somebody is at risk of significant harm to themselves or others, or if a crime is committed. You can request to see the information we hold, in writing.
Who and how is it shared
We are required to submit monitoring forms to funders about our work with carers. We will never share personal information or in any way identifies you or the person who requires care. To maximise support for you, we may also share information with other professionals about your engagement, only in your best interest and with your consent.
QPOP (Quality Pathways Outcomes and Performance) As we are funded by the Solihull Council to deliver services for carers we have to submit unidentifiable statistical information.
Liquid Logic Social Services Database. Carers Trust Solihull (formerly Solihull Carers Centre) is funded to carry out Carers Assessments on their behalf of Solihull MBC. If you request an assessment all this information including your cared fors’ name and address will be stored on the SMBC’s social services database and our Carers Trust Solihull database but will be allocated to our teams.
After you have been registered with Carers Trust Solihull you will be asked to complete a consent form. Without full consent, we will not be able to offer you a service. Any issues with the form please contact us.
You can complete an online consent form here.