Carer information

Are You a Carer?

If you are please let us know - we may be able to help you.

We have a dedicated carer's Champion - Lelsey Lobban her deputy is Kirsty Nicholas - who can help if you have any queries.

Do you need help with non clinical issues?

We can arrange appointments with our Community Navigator, who will help work out what local help is available for you.

The following websites have lots of very useful information for carers in this area:

 http://www.carersinherts.org.uk/   tel 01992 58 69 69

www.carers.org  tel 08448004361

Herts Help - tel 0300 123 4044

Breakaway for carers  - voluntary sitting service   01442 454 280

Products to assist patients and carers with dementia or memory loss   www.unforgettable.org

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.

• Caring for a parent

  Watch this video on: caring for a parent at home

• 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?

Carers support groups

Your mental wellbeing

Feel you need a little more support for your mental wellbeing? You can self refer to our local wellbeing team:

www.hpft.nhs.uk/services/community-services/wellbeing-service/ 

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

Caring for children

Need support during school holidays?

Fit Fed & Read school holiday activity programmes operate out of Fire Stations across Hertfordshire during the school Easter and Summer holidays. They provide an activity programme ‐ including support with literacy ‐ in Hertfordshire’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods, with a nutritious meal every day, free of charge.

If you have a child aged between 7-12 years who is eligible for school meals, please contact the team here:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=ur7mk6rEMUevXdc1sJfq27Iq4vp0zfFGpA6IT76uQOZUNFBMWTRLUkNISE9BNzRHOE5ZOUdHTDFQVS4u