Carers' checklist
Page contents
- Checklist for carers
- Your wellbeing
- Your money and additional support and advice
- Your work
- For the person you care for
- Being a young carer
- Caring for a child who needs care and support
Checklist for carers
Whether you’ve just started looking after someone or have been supporting them for a while, this checklist will help you get the support and information you need. You're a carer if you regularly look after someone who could not cope without your help.
Your wellbeing
☐ Get a carer’s assessment from the Council.
Every carer has the right to a carer’s assessment. This looks at the impact your caring role has on your life, as well as the following:
Your goals
- What you are doing well
- How caring for someone affects your life and health
- How to get the support you need
We can help you to:
Have time off from caring
- Use technology to make things easier
- Think about your needs, so that you can keep safe and well
- Get support for the person you care for
You can complete a carers assessment online:
eastsussex.gov.uk/carers-assessment
or by contacting:
Health and Social Care Connect
Phone 0345 60 80 191
Email HSCC@eastsussex.gov.uk
☐ Register with your GP as a carer
Tell your GP that you are a carer. This can be recorded on your medical records and you may be eligible for additional support like a free flu vaccination or health check.
You should also inform your GP if you are experiencing stress, anxiety, depression or back pain due to your caring role.
Register for online services with your GP so that you can:
- book and cancel appointments
- order repeat prescriptions
- look at your medical records
☐ Make contact with your local carers' centre
Care for the Carers is an independent charity which offers information, advice, support or just a listening ear to carers. It can act as the first point of contact for all carers’ services in East Sussex. Caring can sometimes feel lonely, and it’s OK to admit it’s all getting a bit much.
Website cftc.org.uk
Email info@cftc.org.uk
Phone 01323 738 390
Text 07860 077 300
☐ Make time for yourself and your interests as often as you can.
☐ Take a break from caring
There are ways to arrange a break.
Your money and additional support and advice
☐ Apply for Carers' Allowance
If you spend 35 hours or more per week caring for another person you may be eligible for a weekly allowance from the government.
☐ Check out our Cost of Living support web pages
These will signpost you to a variety of support options including money help and advice, help with benefits, and the Governments Help for Households campaign:
eastsussex.gov.uk/costofliving
☐ Services and support for carers
During your carer's assessment or when speaking to HSCC or Care for the Carers, ask about some of the following services and support that may be available for Carers:
- the Carer’s personal budget: a one-off payment to pay for things like education or leisure activities to meet your eligible needs.
- the East Sussex carers card is designed to be carried with you to identify you as a carer in an emergency. It also:
- allows you to set up an emergency respite plan(CRESS plan) with East Sussex County Council
- gives you savings and discounts at retail and leisure venues
- Funding available for replacement care if you need to attend a healthcare appointment or training course.
- Free training courses: unpaid carers can attend free training courses.
Your work
☐ Tell your employer about your caring responsibilities.
☐ Think about asking for flexible working.
For the person you care for
☐ Make sure they have a social care needs assessment from us.
☐ Future care needs
It might be useful to think about future care needs, their preferences, powers of attorney and whether their will is up to date.
Being a young carer
If you are under 18 and look after someone, you may be a ‘young carer’. You could be providing emotional or practical support or personal care.
We can look at what support you need as well as the person you care for.
☐ Please contact East Sussex Young Carers
For information, advice and support:
Phone 0300 777 2011
Email info@eastsussexyoungcarers.org.uk
Website https://www.imago.community/Children-and-Young-People/East-Sussex-Young-Carers
Please note that Care for the Carers also runs activities and groups for young carers.
Caring for a child who needs care and support
If you are caring for a child or young person with a disability or special educational needs:
☐ Please contact Amaze:
Check the range of support and information Amaze offers parent carers of 0-25 year olds in East Sussex
Website: www.amazesussex.org.uk
For more information and advice, contact the SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs & Disability Information, Advice and Support Service) adviceline.
Phone: 01273 772 289
Email: sendiass@amazesussex.org.uk
☐ Find out about joining ESPCF
The East Sussex Parent Carer Forum (ESPCF) is a voice and a community for parent carers in East Sussex
Website: www.espcf.org.uk
Email: info@espcf.org.uk
If you are a parent carer of a disabled child up to age 18:
☐ Ask for a carer’s assessment
☐ See the East Sussex Local Offer
For more information visit: https://localoffer.eastsussex.gov.uk/