What is a Carer?
The term carer is used here to describe an adult or a child who provides or intends to provide practical and emotional support to someone with a mental health problem. You may or may not live with the person you care for. You could be a relative, partner, friend or neighbour; or a young person supporting a parent with mental health problems.

Carers and the caring role
Many carers do not recognise the label of 'carer' and do not choose to label themselves as carers. Caring can cover a wide range of time, commitment and intensity. The carers of people with mental health problems often face particular psychological strains. While they may not be always be practically involved many carers of people with mental health problems feel they must be permanently "on call" to the person they care for. The uncertainty and unpredictability of helping someone cope with the mental health problems can be exhausting, both physically and psychologically.
Asking for some support does not mean you can't cope. With it you may be able to get more out of life both for person you care for and yourself.

Young Carers
Children and young people whose parents have long term mental health problems can find themselves particularly isolated by their parents illness from friends and school life. Sometimes parents with long term illnesses unwittingly lean heavily on their children for practical and emotional support. Children are ill equipped to provide this because of their age and own need to be cared for themselves, but for very understandable reasons sometimes feel they have no alternative but to be here for mum or dad. They may feel constantly anxious or ashamed and hide their caring responsibilities from those around them. As a result the family does not get the outside support it needs and the child suffers in terms of his/her own emotional stability and educational attainment.

What is a Carer's Assessment?
A Carer's Assessment is the process of looking at the help and support the carer is able and willing to give, and what help and support the carer is not able and willing to give to the person needing care. The Assessment is a carer's opportunity to talk about the care they give and how giving this care affects them. The outcome of the assessment should be a Carer's Care plan.

Requesting a Carers Assessment
You may request a carer's assessment at any time by contacting the Community Mental Health Team looking after the person you care for.
Before your needs are assessed it is worth thinking through issues in advance. These may include :

• How willing and how able are you to provide care now and in the future ?

• How caring affects your social life or your job ?

• How good is your own health ?

• Does caring cause you relationship problems or financial problems ?

• What practical or emotional support do you need ?

• What responsibilities do you have, e.g. bringing up children, caring for elderly parents ?

• What would happen if you became ill ?

• Are you able to provide care effectively ?

• Do you need someone to help you get your views across during the assessment.

• What do you want from the assessment ?

What should be in a Carer's Care Plan

• Information about the mental health problem affecting the person you care for and how to get more information about it.

• Information about the medication (including possible side effects) and other treatment the person receiving.

• Information about what to do in a crisis and how to get help.

• What will be provided to meet your own mental and physical health needs.

• How to get advice on benefits, housing, education and employment.

• Arrangements for short term breaks

• Arrangements for social support including access to carer's support networks

• Information about complaints and appeals procedures.

(Some of the above is taken directly from A Commitment To Carers a leaflet published jointly by the National Schizophrenia Fellowship and The Dept of Health.)

For information about local services for carers contact: -

Gwen Gillies
Carer Liaison Officer
Planning & Partnership Unit
Victoria House
Eign Street
Hereford
HR4 0AN
Tel: 01432 262042
Fax: 01432 341958
Email: Gwen.Gillies@hereford-ha.wmids.nhs.uk

Local Information and Support

Herefordshire receives more than £200,000 a year to meet the needs of carers of people with all illnesses. You can access this resource by contacting one of the agencies listed here or by asking for a Carer's Assessment from the Community Mental Health Team with whom the person you care for is contact.

Herefordshire Carers Support
Mortimer House
Holmer Rd
Hereford
HR4 9TA
Tel: 01432 356068
Fax: 01432 356149

Contact People:
Margaret James (Service Manager)
Nick Dubberley (Carer Support Worker)
Patricia Stokes (Carer Support Worker)

Service description:
Herefordshire Carer's Support supports adult Carers and offers:

• Information about benefits

• A bi-monthly newsletter

• An Emergency Card for Carers and those being cared for

• Phone support

• Short term Relief Care

• Practical advice on Lifting and First Aid

• Support Groups

• A voice in planning services through the Carers Consultation Network

Herefordshire Young Carers
Mortimer House
Holmer Rd
Hereford HR4 9TA
Tel: 01432 356068
Fax: 01432 356149

Contact People:
Emma Williams
Sally Thomas

Service Description:
Herefordshire Young Carers support children and young people under the age of 18 who look after someone whom is ill, has a disability, a mental health problem, or a drug or alcohol problem.

Carers In Mind
C/o
130/132 Widemarsh St
Hereford
HR19HN
Tel: O1432 356068 or 01432 278561

Contact People:
Nick Dubberley
Maggie Matthews

Service Description:
Carers in Mind is a support group (about 20 members) for carers of people with mental health problems. It is run in association with Herefordshire Mind and meets on the first Tuesday of every month 7pm -9pm at 130-132 Widemarsh St, Hereford. Everybody welcome. No need to contact in advance but for further information contact Nick or Maggie.

Take a Break
The Ryefield Centre
Grammar School Close
Ross-on-Wye
HR9 7QD
Tel: 01989 567443 (10 -1 Mon- Fri.)

Contact:
Diana Bower

Service description:
Take a break recruits, trains and supports volunteers to allow carers short breaks away.

Hereford Family Support
Tel: 01432 851426

Service Description:
For families with a child with a disability and / or special needs.
Meetings are held on Wednesdays between 10:00am and 12:00pm at the Friends Meeting House, King Street, Hereford.
Phone for further information

Links to National Carers Organisations

Carers National Association
20-25 Glasshouse Yard
London
EC1A 4JT
Tel: 020 7490 8818

Carers Line
Tel: 0808 808 7777 (open Mon-Fri, 10am-12 and 2-4pm)

Caring Matters
132 Gloucester Place
London
NW1 6DT
Tel: 020 7402 2702
Email: info@caring-matters.org.uk

Manic Depression Fellowship
Castle Works
21 St. George's Road
London
SE1 6ES.
Tel: 020 7793 2600
Email: mdf@mdf.org.uk

Mind
Granta House
15 -19 Broadway
Stratford
London
E15 4BQ
Tel: 0181 519 2122

National Schizophrenia Fellowship
The National Schizophrenia Fellowship
Registered Office
28 Castle Street
Kingston-Upon-Thames
Surrey
KT1 1SS
Tel: 020 8547 3937
National Advice Line - Tel: 020 8974 6814 (10 - 3 Mon - Frid)
Email: info@nsf.org.uk

Princess Royal Trust for Carers
142 Minories
London
EC3N 1LB
Tel: (020) 7480 7788
Email: info@carers.org

Sane
1st Floor
Cityside House
40 Adler Street
London E1
1EE SANE
Tel: 020 7375 1002
Saneline - Tel: 0845 767 8000 (charged at local rates)
Email: london@sane.org.uk