Who is an unpaid carer?
Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill defines ‘carer’ as
“Carer” means a person who provides or intends to provide care for an adult or disabled child;
A person is not a carer for the purposes of this Act if the person provides or intends to provide care
(a) under or by virtue of a contract, or
(b) as voluntary work.
Put simply a carer is; Someone of any age, who provides care to someone else who has a physical disability, mental illness and or long-term illness, and without that care the other person could not live independently.
Unpaid carers will usually fall into one of the following three broad categories, whilst also recognising that unpaid carers are individuals with differing and a diverse range of needs.
- Adult Carer – a person aged over 18 caring for someone else who is also aged over 18.
- Young Carer – a young person under 18 providing care to someone else, such as a sibling or adult.
- Parent Carer – parent/s provide additional care and support to their child or grown-up child because of their (child’s/adult child’s) disability.
Important things to note
The term unpaid carer is now used to differentiate between someone who provides unpaid care, as opposed to someone who is paid to provide care i.e. a carer.
Someone who receives Carers Allowance would still be classed as an unpaid carer.
What is a Carers Needs Assessment?
This is an opportunity for an unpaid carer to have a conversation with a social care professional
- about what matters to you as an unpaid carer and what outcomes you want to achieve for yourself.
- to identify what support, preventative services, information, advice or assistance could help in achieving those identified outcomes
- as to whether you are able and willing to provide care to the person you care for
From this conversation the Local Authority will be able to identify if an unpaid carer has a need for care, support or both care and support.
Important thing to note
- The support you need as an unpaid carer will come from the Local Authority where the person you care for resides in.
If you want to talk to someone about your caring role or want a hard copy of the Carers Handbook, then please call one of the following numbers.
| Adult Services Abergavenny Tel: 01873 735885 Monmouth/Raglan/Usk/Trellech Tel: 01600 773041 Chepstow/Caldicot Tel: 01291 635666 If you want to know more about young carers support contact Young Carers Service Telephone 01633 644389 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) to talk to one of the team. Email: youngcarers@monmouthshire.gov.uk or SPACEWbandFamilySupport@monmouthshire.gov.uk |
Useful information
Not everybody wants or is ready to have a carers needs assessment and sometimes you may just want to find the information yourself. Below are some useful information links.
Young carers – If you want to know more about accessing support then please follow this link Young Carers – Monmouthshire
Carers Allowance – Carers Allowance is a national benefit and claimed via www.gov.uk. Follow this link and then search for Carers Allowance to take you directly to the page. You cannot access Carers Allowance via a carers needs assessment.
The Carers Handbook – contains a range of information to help in the caring role such as more detailed information about a carers needs assessment, looking after you, wills and powers of attorney etc.
Parent Carer Handbook – this provides useful information to support parent carers to understand the impact upon them when their child transitions into adulthood.
Planning for Emergencies – this booklet is to help unpaid carers record information about what care is provided for the person they care for. If when an emergency arises and a carer cannot provide that care, this information can help others to step in.
Monmouthshire Carers Network Facebook – look out for unpaid carer updates on our Facebook page which also includes information from other organisations. To find us search for Monmouthshire Carers Network.
Registering yourself as an adult unpaid carer with the Monmouthshire Carers Network
If you think you may be an unpaid adult carer then you can sign up to the Monmouthshire Carers Network. Before we sign you up though, if you are not known to Social Services, one of Carers Information and Support Workers will give you a call. This is so we can understand your caring role and see if there is any other support you might need. Once you are signed up, you’ll receive:
- A Spring and Autumn Monmouthshire Carers Newsletter
This includes a range of local and national information, benefits and grants signposting, support groups, updates on events and any information that may help unpaid carers.
- Access to free unpaid carers events and initiatives
Organised trips and events, giving unpaid carers time away from their caring role and a chance to meet others. We have seen many new friendships emerge as a consequence of this.
- Access to apply for 25% of MonLife Leisure Services
Monmouthshire Leisure Services provide a 25% discount to their Leisure Centres for unpaid carers, and once you are signed up to the Monmouthshire Carers Network you can apply for this benefit.
To sign up to the Monmouthshire Carers Network, either fill in online form or the printable registration form linked below and return to the email/postal address indicated on the registration form or email Carers@monmouthshire.gov.uk if you want one posting out to you.