Looking after others

Carers Wales

When you’re caring, getting the right information at the right time can make all the difference.

Carers Wales is the leading national charity dedicated to making life better for unpaid carers. Carers are at the heart of their work, shaping their campaigns, helping get carers’ message across through the media and taking action to bring about change locally and nationally.

Carers Wales provide information and advice on a range of topics including:

• benefits and financial support
• your rights as a carer in the workplace
• carers’ assessments and how to get support in your caring role
• services available to carers and the people you care for
• how to complain effectively and challenge decisions.

They also provide free online activities to support your wellbeing, help you take a break and connect with other carers.

If you have a question about caring or just need more support, the Carers Wales Helpline is available on 0808 808 7777 from Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, or you can email advice@carersuk.org.

The Herbert Protocol

When a person goes missing, it is very distressing for family and friends and can be even more worrying when the missing person has dementia.

The Herbert Protocol is a form that carers, family members or friends can fill in to help the police in their search for people with dementia who go missing. Having this information ready to provide can save worry and time. The form contains a list of information to help the police, including:

• medication required
• mobile numbers
• places previously located
• a recent photograph

The police only need the form at the point the person is reported missing. However, you can email a copy to herbertprotocol@south-wales.police.uk if you wish South Wales Police to keep a digital copy of the form on file.

If the person you care for goes missing, conduct a brief ‘open door’ search of the address, grounds and outbuildings, to see if you can find them. If they’re still missing, call 999 immediately and tell the police you have the Herbert Protocol profile available.

For more information, visit South Wales Police website or you can download the form.

Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board- Charter

The Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board is made up of the health board, local authorities and third sector organisations working together to provide health services, care and support that meets the needs of people who live in Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan. They want to make sure you get the right support, at the right time, in the right place.

After listening to the experiences of unpaid carers and the people they care for, the board have launched the Unpaid Carers Charter to help people in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan understand if they, or someone they know, might be an unpaid carer. The Charter also pledges the commitment of partners across the region and outlines how they will support you if you care for someone.

If you need support, call the Care Collective on 029 2192 1024 or email gateway@thecarecollective.wales.

Cardiff Social Care Training and Development

Do you help care for someone living in the Cardiff community – a family member, neighbour or friend?

Are there any subject areas or tasks that you undertake in your caring role in that you would like further training, information, advice or support?

Did you know that you can access Cardiff Council’s Social Care learning and development opportunities?

There are many learning opportunities on offer, including:

• information on the stages of caring
• specialist resources on topics such as dementia
• infection prevention
• manual handling
• first aid
• medication administration
• continence care
• end of life care and many more.

There are a mixture of ways you can learn with the Cardiff Social Care Training and Development Team, such as:

• workbooks
• eLearning
• face to face
• virtual classroom (live training on your computer).

View the training and development calendar.

To gain access to eLearning, workbooks and further learning resources please call 029 2087 1111 or email scwdp@cardiff.gov.uk.

Short Breaks (Respite)

We know what an important job you do looking after your family members or friends and realise that this can be challenging. Taking a break can give you time to relax, look after yourself and do the things you enjoy.

There are many ways to take a break. You might need an hour each week, a day here and there, a week or two for a holiday, or a combination of all of these. You may have family and friends who are able to help, but there are other options to give you a break including:

• Care at home- getting a paid carer or volunteer to come into your home.
• Residential or nursing care- the person you support can have a short stay in a care home.
• Day care- the person you support can go to a day centre or community setting or take part in activities away from home.
• Holidays- help and support for when you want to go on holiday by yourself or with the person you look after.
• Shared Lives Scheme- if the person you support would rather live in a family home, they can stay in a Shared Lives Carer’s home and get all the help they need.
• Direct Payments – using cash payments from social services to arrange care for your loved one.

To talk about what options may be available to you, contact Adult Social Services on 029 2023 4234.