Guest Speaker: Karen Lewis
Carers' Support, Guildford
BCA Meeting 16th January 2012

This is a summary of Ms Karen Lewis' talk to us on Monday 16th January 2012

Carers' Support was started 13 years ago by a group of carers concerned at the lack of support available. They started a campaign of awareness that has resulted in every borough in Surrey having support for carers. It is a charity which gets its core funding from Surrey County Council, though it remains an independent body.

Carers can be referred by their GP, Social Care or can make contact on their own account. The carer will be able to have a one to one meeting with one of the support workers, in confidence, to talk about the carer's needs. There are various ways Carers' Support can help:

• Give information about carers' services and rights.
• Advice on benefits.
• Help in completing forms.
• Act as advocates by attending meetings or writing letters on a carer's behalf.
• Keep carers informed by regular newsletters.
• Support carers who have recently ceased their caring role.
• Network with as many other Carer agencies as possible.

Please note that child carers have their own group - Surrey Young Carers Project - based at Astolat. There are also Carers' Support Groups (currently in Ash, Guildford and West Horsley). These meet on a monthly basis for social contact and a chance to exchange information. Each group will decide what they want to do; sometimes speakers may address the group on related topics, there are visits (garden centres, galleries etc.) and art and craft activities. The Guildford group meets at Fairlands Medical Centre on the second Thursday of the month, from 2pm to 4pm.

In addition, there are "time out" trips four or five times a year (to which the carer will need to contribute financially). For example, thirty five carers from Guildford and Waverley enjoyed Christmas lunch at the Worplesdon Place Hotel in December. Pamper days are very popular; these take place at Ladywell Convent, Godalming five times a year. Carers can choose from a variety of therapies - e.g. reflexology, aromatherapy, head massage - and have lunch in very pleasant surroundings. If necessary, care can be arranged; Carers' Support will cover the cost, and can also provide transport.

In October 2011, the Department of Health put money aside for carers and GPs can sign up to the scheme (around 50% of Guildford GPs have done so). The GP is able to offer up to £500 to enable the carer to get some sort of break - maybe a holiday or residential respite care, or perhaps gym membership, courses, sitting services or transport costs. Carers' Support also has access to money that can go directly to help the carer.

NB Only carers not already getting help from Social Care can access this offer.

This is a new nationwide system of providing support to adults and their carers who can choose what services and support is best for them. Carers need to fill in a self-assessment form (they can get help with this) and the information given is used to work out a budget. This money can be used to put a support plan together - buying in care, getting special equipment or whatever will work best for the carer. The money can be in the form of a direct payment, an indirect payment for someone not able to agree to direct payment, a supported account managed by SILC (Surrey Independent Living Council) continuation of payment by SCC if this is already in place and carers do not wish to change.