KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AS A CARER IN THE BRIGG AREA

BY KIRSTY WESTFIELD, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

North Lincolnshire Council is encouraging carers, both adult and young, to find out their rights and what support is available as Carers Rights Day approaches on Friday 25 November.
This year’s theme for Carers Rights Day is ‘Missing out? Know your rights as a carer’.
Each year Carers Rights Day is held to bring organisations across the UK together to help carers in their local community know their rights and find out how to get the help and support they are entitled to.
The Care Act 2014 brought in new legislation and rights for carers so that carers needs are recognised in the same way as the person they care for.
The council offers support to carers of all ages to find and access the support they need. There are carers as young as six years old and carers in their 90s in North Lincolnshire.
The Wellbeing and Young Carers Team provides support, information and advice to young carers aged between five and 18. The Family Carer Team provides support for carers over 18 years-old and identifies their needs.
Young carers in England have the following rights:

• To an assessment regardless of who they care for, what type of care they provide or how often they provide it.
• They have the right to an assessment based on the appearance of need, which means that young carers will no longer have to request an assessment or be undertaking a substantial amount of care.
• The support service should take a whole family approach to assessing and supporting adults so that young carer’s needs are identified when undertaking an adult or adult carer’s needs assessment.
• Support services should ensure that adult and children social services work together to ensure assessments are effective.
• They have the right to remain healthy and safe.
• They have the right to fulfil their educational and employment potential.

Adult carers in England have the following rights:

• To an assessment regardless of the level of support they are providing or their financial means, and even if the person they provide care for does not have eligible support needs. This replaces the previous legislation that stated carers must provide “a substantial amount of care on a regular basis” in order to qualify for an assessment.
• The assessment considers the impact that caring has on the carer and focusses on their wellbeing, whether they are able or willing to carry on caring, whether they work or want to work, want to study or do more socially.
• To request flexible working.
• To be treated without discrimination.

If you are a young carer or know a young carer who doesn’t receive support, contact the Wellbeing and Young Carers Team at youngcarers@northlincs.gov.uk or call Tracey Abrams-Porter or Bethany Coome on 01724 297945.
To find out what support is available for carers over 18 years-old contact the Family Carer Team at familycarerteam@northlincs.gov.uk or call 01724 298393.
Coun David Rose, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Learning said: “Being a carer, no matter what your age is, can be very lonely. It is important that carers know what rights they have and the support that is available to them. We have dedicated teams for both young carers and adult carers that will assess the carer’s needs and identify the best support.
“Please don’t think you are alone. There is plenty of help available. If you don’t already access support from the council, please get in touch with the relevant team. It could make a difference to your life.”
There are 6.5 million carers in the UK. This is one in 10 of the population. In North Lincolnshire there are over 19,000 carers which equates to 11 per cent of the population.

PICTURED: Brigg Carers' Support Centre, Redcombe Lane.