Caring for Carers

As well as assessing the needs of the person you care for, your local council's social services department should give you a carer’s assessment to see what help you might need in your caring role. You can get a carer’s assessment whether the person you care for is having their needs assessed or not.

The kind of help and support you could get includes:

• respite care to give you a break

• information on local support groups

• help with caring

• equipment to help you in your caring role.
  

You may also be entitled to a 'personal budget', which is the amount of money the council has calculated will cover the support needs identified in your assessment. This can be taken as a 'direct payment' and could help you maintain your interests outside of your caring responsibilities. This direct payment could be a one-off payment, for example to fund an exercise class, or it could be an ongoing payment, for example to spend on something every week, like membership to a club.