Services for carers

A personal health budget is an amount of money to support a person’s identified health needs. It is planned and agreed between the person and their local NHS team.

Who is a carer?

Carers regularly look after, help or support someone who wouldn’t be able to manage everyday life without their help. A carer doesn’t have to be living with the person they care for, and the help they give doesn’t have to be physical. The carer may be caring for a partner, another relative, a friend or a neighbour. For example, it may be someone who:

is over 60;

is living with dementia;

has a physical or learning disability or a mental health condition; Having a carers’ assessment Anyone who provides, or intends to provide, regular unpaid support to someone who could not manage without their support has the right to have their own needs assessed, even if the person they care for has refused support services or an assessment of their own needs. A carers’ assessment is an opportunity for people to tell their local council what they need as a carer, and to find out what support might be available. The assessment is an essential first step for carers to get the support they may need. It looks at: their life; would help; and The assessment can also give lots of information about other services that might help, and other

has sight, hearing or communication difficulties; The aim is to enable people with long-term conditions and disabilities to have greater choice, flexibility and control over the healthcare and support they receive.

has a long-term health condition; or misuses drugs or alcohol.

The carer may be helping with: personal care, such as washing and dressing; going to the toilet or dealing with incontinence; eating or taking medicines; getting about at home or outside; practical help at home and keeping someone emotional support or communicating.

the care the carer provides and how this affects

any support they are getting now and what else what they would like their support to achieve.

company; or ideas for support. The carer’s assessment will show if the carer qualifies for support from Adult Social Care.

To arrange a carers’ assessment, speak with the social worker of the person being cared for, or contact Carers Bucks or the Milton Keynes Council Adult Access Team – details are on page 14.

Carers’ Personal Budgets

If, following an assessment, the carer is found to be eligible for council support, it will work with them to develop a support plan, this will include information on any Personal Budget they may be eligible for.

A carers’ Personal Budget is the amount of money which has been agreed to meet the carer’s identified needs. The carer can request some or all of their local council’s contribution to the Personal Budget as a Direct Payment, a payment that can be used towards the cost of something specific that

When Adult Social Care considers a carer’s Personal Budget, it gives priority to situations where there

Respite at home

Home-based respite services give carers a break from their caring responsibilities. A care worker can come in to look after the person being cared for, so the carer can have some time to themselves. The breaks could be regular or just when needed.

Respite at home is considered to be a service for Carers may want to explore whether they are entitled to Carer’s Allowance – currently £67.25 per week but this may change over the lifetime of this Directory. Carer’s Allowance is a taxable benefit available to eligible carers. Carers may also qualify for Carer’s Premium or Carer’s Credit depending on their eligibility. The Government’s website, www.gov.uk has more information on benefits, including carers’ benefits. Alternatively, contact a local carers’ organisation which may be able to help undertake a benefit check. You can find out more about the organisations supporting carers in Buckinghamshire by exploring www.careadvicebuckinghamshire.org or

www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/social-care-and

health/adult-social-care/directory-search for My Family, Our Needs is an online resource providing impartial information for parents, carers and practitioners supporting children from birth to 25 years with additional needs. As well as guidance, policy and signposting, there is a lifestyle section for parents covering topics such as health and wellbeing, work, family and relationships. is a significant risk of the carer not being able to continue to provide care if they do not get some support. The amount a carer could get depends on their needs identified by their carer’s assessment. The money is not taxed, and it will not affect any benefits.

the person who is being cared for. If they have a Personal Budget for their own needs (see page 11) they could use that money to pay for it.

A financial assessment of the person being cared for will confirm whether they need to pay towards the

Benefits

cost of this service. carers in Milton Keynes.

Adult Social Care Milton Keynes Council – Access Team

Tel: 01908 253772 Email: Access.Team@Milton-Keynes.gov.uk Web: www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/social-care

and-health/adult-social-care

Carers Bucks

Carers Bucks is a local organisation supporting carers in Buckinghamshire. It supports both adult and young carers and has various support groups and services to help carers in their role. Tel: 0300 777 2722 Email: mail@carersbucks.org

Resource for those supporting disabled children

Web: www.carersbucks.org Visit www.myfamilyourneeds.co.uk