Carers Information 

Front Page 

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Benefits page  Disabled Workers Freedom of Information Act 2005 Policies and Guidelines Links

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Rights of the nearest relative    A Guide for Carers  Plymouth Support Network   Recovery

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Updates in practice Alzheimers  Quotes   A Carers Perspective   Carers Experiences   Photo's

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Mental Health Tribunal    Carers information Carer support workers in Devon  Carer Support Worker Cornwall

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Schizophrenia Info  Personal Experience of Schizophrenia  Hearing Voices  Post Traumatic Stress 

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Aspergers a tragic story of misunderstanding   It's a Syndrome   Positive Thinking 

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Battle with Depression Self Help Sites Working in mental health Books Medication

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New Guest Book   NEW Carers Forums and Sites by Carers  NEW Substance Misuse

NEW Carers Expert- By Experience sister site This site will be where you will find carers stories. It is new at the moment and will be added to shortly

Email me

"I don't need comforting; I need (me and my situation) to be understood."

Ref: Caring with confidence http://www.caringwithconfidence.net:80/

 

Plymouth Carers Champions Contact Details

Carers Champions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       3 Woodland Terrace                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Greenbank                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Plymouth PL4 8NL 

Tel: 01752 211348 

Email: carers@colebrookhousing.co.uk 

Website: www.colebrookhousing.co.uk click on CARERS 

 
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NEW  Carers Direct advice line launched

New national information, advice and support telephone service for carers, launched on April 1st 2009.

The new freephone telephone service supplies a range of information and advice, including:

1. Guide to caring

2. Financial and legal advice

3. Advice for young carers

4. Work and study information

5. Find local support groups and services

6. Advice on keeping healthy

The service is open seven days a week (8am - 9pm Monday to Friday and 11am - 4pm on weekends and bank holidays)

Online information is also available at www.nhs.uk/carersdirect

 

 
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Carers Stories      http://www.freewebs.com/pamshouse/

 

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Carers Strategy      http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_085345

 

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Carers Direct  http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/Pages/CarersDirectHome.aspx

 

 

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Getting Help http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Carers/Pages/Getting-help.aspx?url=Pages/what-is-it.aspx

 

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Preparing for a carers assessment If you have arranged to have a carer’s assessment, it is a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to think through your role as a carer. As a guide see: http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/guide/assessments/Pages/Preparingtobeassessed.aspx

 

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How to get assessed If you're a carer, you may want your own assessment by social services of your need for support or services. The way that you can get one will depend on the circumstances.

If you're regularly providing a substantial amount of care for someone, social services have a legal obligation to let you know that you has a right to your own carer’s assessment. They should let you know about this when they carry out an assessment of the person you are looking after (the community care assessment). The information should be available in different languages and formats.

For further guidance see: http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/guide/assessments/Pages/Howtogetassessed.aspx

 

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Who's who in a carer's life The UK’s six million carers provide unpaid care and support to relatives and friends that are ill, frail or disabled. Often they don’t see themselves as carers. However, carers’ charities and the Government have been keen to define the role to ensure the right people access the right support, benefits and services. In their role as carers, individuals interact with a wide variety of people. If you become a carer, here are some of the people that you will come into contact with.                                                                  See: http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/carerslives/Pages/Whoswhoinacarerslife.aspx

 

 

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This report reviews how people are assessed for publicly funded social care. The Law Commission is currently scoping a review of adult social care law in England and Wales. Aim is to develop a single statute to ensure a coherent legal framework for services. Currently falls under several pieces of legislation. http://www.csci.org.uk/default.aspx?page=2596

 

 

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Tips for Caregivers (American Website) Caregiving is hard, and caregivers of chronically ill people often feel stress. They are "on call" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you're caring for someone with mental problems can be especially difficult http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/caregivers.html#coping

 

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NEW Supporting Carers Better Connects People Supporting Cares in Mental Health in England www.scbnetwork.org

A Network Newsletter, Bulletins and email circulars – key news & developments in practices, policy, campaigns, ‘Around the Network’. The Newsletters are 3-4 times a year, ‘topped up’ by bulletins (also 3-4 times a year, and email circulars (every 2-4 weeks, depending on what’s happening).  Register to receive emails: Tel: 020 7307 2875 – phil.partridge@attend.org.uk

 

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NEW  High rates of depression in carers: CARERS who look after frail, disabled or mentally ill relatives suffer "extraordinary" rates of depression and have the lowest level of wellbeing of any group in society, a study reveals. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/10/14/1192300600633.html

 

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NEW Mental Health Shop with some free information sheets that can be downloaded http://www.mentalhealthshop.org 

 

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NEW Register for Rethinks newsletter E-Bulletin http://www.rethink.org/applications/account/

 

bulletNEW  Updates in Mental Health Research http://lancashirecare.wordpress.com/                                                                                    You can also  subscribe to update alerts directly into your email.

 

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NEW Mental Health Care: Mental Health Care is an information and research news website developed by the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London www.mentalhealthcare.org.uk 

Carers’ stories

We are always looking for stories of your experiences of caring for someone with mental illness. This is a popular section of the Mental Health Care site and visitors often say reading about other peoples’ stories has helped them through their own experiences. If you’d like to submit a story to us, visit www.mentalhealthcare.org.uk/carersstories/?id=115 for some examples of published stories and information on how to send yours in. We offer a small fee for those accepted for publication. To receive their E- Bulletin newsletters contact Sarah Gentleman sarah.gentleman@iop.kcl.ac.uk

 

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http://www.employersforcarers.org.uk# Information for employers

 
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Health and Safety Executive Stress at work site http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/index.htm

 
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Support workers in DEVON see  Carer support workers in Devon

 

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Support workers in CORNWALL  see carers support in Cornwall

 

bullet Carers Council  Nottingham  - Allies in Adult Mental Health                                                                             
bullet Contact:  Sherree Westley Admin. Support Worker Carers Council - Allies in Adult Mental  Health                                             
bullet   Tel: 0115 912 8019  Fax:0115 924 5858  email:  s.westley@carersfederation.co.uk                                                                                        
bullet  Website: www.mhcarers.co.uk  Good articles on confidentiality

 
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Carers support in Exeter http://www.exeter-relatives-forum.org.uk

 

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East Dorset Mental Health Carers Forum 'Baileys' 131 Barrack Road, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 2AW        

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Tel: 01202 481730  Email: edmhcf@baileys131.freeserve.co.uk Website: www.edmhcf.org.uk             

 
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http://www.empathywithcarers.co.uk # Carers Training the Workforce good guide to the mental health act on this site

 
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Carers Support in Rotherham c4c_admin@hotmail.co.uk Diana Swanson 

 
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Derbyshire Carers www.derbyshirementalhealthcarers.co.uk

 

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Carers Scotland  91 Mitchell Street Glasgow G1 3LN Tel: 0141 221 9141 Fax: 0141 221 9140 Email: jacqui.taylor@carerscotland.org  

Website:  www.carerscotland.org

 

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http://www.learning-for-living.co.uk#City & Guilds' new qualification and support package for carers has now launched!

 

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New Carers to benefit from right to request flexible working Carers across the UK are set to benefit from the right to request flexible working. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=240916&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromSearch=true                                                              Department of Trade and Industry 7th Floor 1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
Public Enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000
Textphone +44 (0)20 7215 6740
(for those with hearing impairment)
http://www.dti.gov.uk Client ref Reference P/2006/240 GNN ref 140313P

 

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Carers may be able to build up additional State Pension

People who have given up work or don't earn very much because they are caring for someone may be able to get additional State Pension when they retire. Since April 2002, certain carers and parents have been able to build up additional State Pension through the State Second Pension. Many will build up State Second Pension automatically but some carers may need to take action to ensure they get more when they retire.

To find out more about State Second Pension, who can benefit and who needs to take action please order the free government guide - State pensions for carers and parents (PM9).

Call 0845 7 31 32 33 giving reference number S2P052 (a service for textphone users is available on 0845 604 0210); or view, download or order the guide from www.pensionguide.gov.uk. When ordering the guide online please select Email Newsletter as the source from which you heard about the guide.

 

 

 

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Inhuman rights: Fear of breaking confidentiality leads some doctors to withhold vital pieces of information about mental health patients from their carers. As Juliet Rix reports, the consequences can be painful. Wednesday January 5, 2005 The Guardian For the full story go to: http://society.guardian.co.uk/mentalhealth/story/0,8150,1383096,00.html

 

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For Children: Australian website COMIC - Children of mentally ill consumers (for the children/siblings of people who are mentally ill) http://www.howstat.com/comic/ 

 

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The right to be consulted Carer – Patient and Public involvement Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 which places a duty on NHS trusts, Primary Care Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities - to make arrangements to involve and consult patients and the public in service planning and operation, and in the development of proposals for changes. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Organisationpolicy/PatientAndPublicinvolvement/Involvingpatientspublichealthcare/DH_4093411

 

 
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 Parent Participation:  Contact a Family has launched some new resources for parents interested in making use of the Childrens' NSF. They are called Making a Difference and there is a version for individual parents and another for parent groups. Both can be ordered from Contact a Family 020 7608 8700 or info@cafamily.org.uk. They also have downloadable resources on parent participation.

 

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Mental Capacity Act 2005 This received Royal Assent on the 7th April and is due to be implemented in 2007. Its provisions will replace current schemes for Enduring Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection Receivers. The Act is underpinned by 5 principles: 

q       A presumption of capacity  

q       Right for people to be supported to make their own decisions  

q       Right to make seemingly eccentric/unwise decisions

q       Anything done for someone without capacity must be in their best interests  

q       Anything done for someone without capacity should be least restrictive of his or her basic rights and freedom

The Act is available on  www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2005/20050009.htm

 

Code of Practice for the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Certain parts of the Act start in April 2007 and the rest come into force in October 2007. For more details go to http://www.dca.gov.uk/menincap/legis.htm#timetable

 

Difference between capacity consent and impairment An interesting discussion follows on the difference between capacity, consent and impairment. http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2007-01-10a.228.6

keeping in touch with the discussion in the House of Lords by  watching it on
http://www.parliamentlive.tv

The Code is available at http://www.dca.gov.uk/capacity/index.htm. SEE ALSO WORKING IN MENTAL HEALTH FOR MORE INFO

 

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Family psychosis study Scientists, therapists and doctors at the Institute of Psychiatry (IoP) work to discover what causes mental health problems and diseases of the brain to help find new treatments – and ways of preventing them in the first place. Find out more in the Institute of Psychiatry Research Report  Website  www.iop.kcl.ac.uk

 

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Rethink National Advice Line: 020 8974 6814 (Mon-Fri, 10am–3pm) – help/advice on medication, groups, benefits, wills/legal issues, publications, etc. www.rethink.org or www.rethinkcarers.org  General enquiries: 0845 456 0455

 

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Benefit Enquiry Line (people with disabilities): 8.30am – 6.30pm, Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Saturdays. General advice on Benefits: tel 0800 88 22 00. Textphone: 0800 24 33 55 Web: www.dwp.gov.uk

 

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 Carers UK: www.ukcarers.org  - Carers Line: 0808 808 7777 – 10am-noon, 2-4pm(wed/Thur) Free call

 

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EPILEPSY ACTION: Free-phone help-line on 0808 800 5050, website at www.epilepsy.org.uk  

 

bullet Manic Depression Fellowship – 08456 340 540 www.mdf.org.uk

 
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BOOK for carers:  The Selfish Pigs Guide To Caring 

The Selfish pig’s guide to caring. By Hugh Marriott:  Of course, you’re not really a selfish pig at all, but this book is for ordinary people, ...I am in the middle of reading this book myself it is a very down to earth book. Funny in parts but also explains a lot of things that carers need to know. If yours or the person you care for situation gets you down at times this book can also be a real mood lifter for carers. And very insightful for professionals to read.

Meet the Author http://www.meettheauthor.co.uk/bookbites/1178.html

Buy the book: http://www.polperropress.co.uk/viewbook.php?id=6

Also available post free www.guardian.co.uk/bookshop just search by typing in the title of the book

 
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www.partnersincare.co.uk The Royal College of Psychiatrists, 17 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PG.

 

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NEW Carers and confidentiality http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/campaigns/pinc/Carersandconfidentiality.pdf

 

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http://www.Carers.gov.uk#for info on benifits for carers and more

 

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http://www.ukonline.gov.uk#some useful information for everybody

 

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http://www.carersuk.org/Home  Carers campaigners

 

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 NEW  Wirral  http://Wirralforums.com# Whether you are a mental health professional, service user, carer or a member of the community, Wirral Forums is designed for you.

 

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http://www.resourcedirectory.co.uk/ Birmingham Resource  MH directory search for carers support groups

 

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NEW http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/caregivers.html#coping  information on caregivers from

 

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NEW http://www.csci.org.uk/about_csci/press_releases/new_care_advice_will_help_mill.aspx New care advice will help millions, looking for social care services. For yourself or a relative new advice booklet titled Choosing the right social care service for you

 

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NEW  Want to set up a trust fund?  http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/trusts/vb-guidance.htm  Trust Funds: Parent carers who have disabled children and wish to set up a trust can gain access to a new package of measures which modernises the trust fund tax system

 

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http://www.youngcarers.hants.org.uk#funded by uk dept of health

 

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http://www.crossroadscare.co.uk/YOUNGCARERS.htm

 

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http://www.the-childrens-society.org.uk/youngcarers#The Site for Young Carers, their Families, and Professionals across the UK

 

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http://www.nchafc.org.uk/youngcarers#Young carers childrens charity

 

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http://www.bubblycrew.org.uk#Young Carers site run by young carers.

 

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http://www.triangle-services.co.uk/# Triangle is an independent organisation providing training and consultancy throughout the UK, and outreach support for children and young people in Sussex.
Everything we do relates to disabled children and young people. Most of our work is around children’s rights, child protection, communication and inclusion. (aged 3-24)

 

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http://www.youngminds.org.uk#promotes child and adolescent mental health

 

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http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/4 Loads of links for carers info

 

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http://www.selfhelp.org.uk/homepage.htm#how to run support groups

 

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http://www.holidaycare.org.uk/#If you have mental health problems or are a carer info on taking a break