Carers in Norfolk and Waveney
Carers in Norfolk and Waveney – Support and Information
Unpaid Carers of all ages play a vital role in keeping people safe and well at home who would otherwise need ongoing care from local services. Local and national data consistently shows that caring can have a significant negative impact on Carers’ own health and wellbeing. You can learn more about how we work with Carers here.
All GP practices have a carers’ register – a list of patients who are providing unpaid care to someone with a long-term health condition. If your practice knows that you are an unpaid carer they can offer you support. Carers UK have information about ‘Talking to you GP’ which includes a template letter to help you contact your practice.
Read on to see what support and information is available in Norfolk and Waveney.
Carers Charities
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Carers Matter Norfolk
If you are looking after a friend or family member who could not cope without you, Carers Matter Norfolk is here to support you. Carers Matter Norfolk is the countywide service funded by Norfolk County Council and the NHS to provide support to unpaid carers. All services are free and available to people aged 18+ caring for someone aged 18+. Support is available to those caring for someone living in Norfolk, whether the carer lives in the county or elsewhere (caring at a distance).
Their support includes providing:
- A specialist advice line
- Carer’s assessments
- Carer’s breaks
- A Health and Wellbeing Fund
- A self-help hub https://carersselfhelphub.org.uk/
The Carers Matter Norfolk Advice Line provides free, independent and confidential support. The team of Carer Advisors have been trained to provide listening and emotional support and many have personal experience of caring.
If they identify you will benefit from additional support such as a carer’s assessment, counselling, access to the health and wellbeing fund, a break from your caring role or education and training, we can help with this.
It is free to call their Advice Line from both landline and mobile telephones or you can chat online to an Advisor via our website.
You can call 0800 083 1148, email info@carersmatternorfolk.org.uk or visit carersmatternorfolk.org.uk. If you would like regular email updates giving information on support and advice for carers you can sign up at carersmatternorfolk.org.uk/keep-in-touch/.
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Caring Together
Caring Together is a charity supporting carers of all ages across Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. They provide information and advice, run services in local communities and campaign for improved support for carers. They also deliver homecare and other support for carers through their charitable activities.
Caring Together are part of the Carers Matter Norfolk partnership. Their role includes providing information and support for adults looking after an adult in Norfolk. Visit carersmatternorfolk.org.uk/ for more details on the support from Carers Matter Norfolk.
Caring Together also offer opportunities for young carers to have their voices heard through Norfolk Young Carers Forum.
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Young Carers Matter Norfolk
Young Carers Matter Norfolk is a partnership of voluntary sector organisations specialising in supporting carers and young people. They want to level the playing field for young carers in Norfolk by ensuring that every young carer is identified and provided with the support, friendship and opportunities that every child deserves.
They have a team of Triage and Assessment Workers and Family Workers who work with families to ensure the right support is put in place to remove or reduce the caring the young carer provides. Across Norfolk they work with partners, Youth Workers and Young Carer Support Workers to give young carers a voice, provide; group and 1:1 support, fun activities and the opportunity to meet other young carers, as well as the chance to learn new skills and access wellbeing sessions.
For more information, please visit: https://www.youngcarersmatternorfolk.org/ or call the free Advice Line on 0800 083 1148. You can also follow them on social media: X, Facebook and Instagram.
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Suffolk Family Carers
For over 30 years Suffolk Family Carers have been helping family carers of all ages across Suffolk get the support they need to live fuller lives. They provide information, advice and support to thousands of family Carers each year. They also campaign on issues that affect Carers and their families, to ensure their voices are heard. For more information, please call 01473 835477, email hello@suffolkfamilycarers.org or visit www.suffolkfamilycarers.org.
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Family Voice Norfolk
Family Voice Norfolk are a group of parents and carers of children and young people aged 0–25 with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in Norfolk. Their aim is to improve services for children and young people. Members are encouraged to feed back on what is working well or not working well for their families. For more information and to become a member, please visit https://www.familyvoice.org.uk/
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West Norfolk Carers
West Norfolk Carers is an independent charity, with a strong history supporting unpaid carers and their families. They tailor support to the individual so each person gains support appropriate to their needs, and are dedicated to supporting family carers of all ages and helping them to cope with their caring responsibilities. They also work to help family carers to improve their emotional and physical well-being, resilience and abilities to cope with their caring roles – whilst also having a ‘life of their own’.
For more information please contact (01553) 768155 or visit them at 20, Thoresby College, Queen Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1HX
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Carers Voice Norfolk & Waveney
Carers Voice is an independent charity representing Unpaid Carers in Norfolk and Waveney. Its Mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of all Carers in Norfolk and Waveney. Through partnership working, it aims to ensure that the voice of Carers are heard and listened to, enabling support and services to be designed and delivered that reflect Carers’ needs and interests.
Within Carers Voice is a team of Carers Ambassadors who have lived experience of being in a Caring role and provide insight in the development of services, policies and decisions which affect them and those they care for. The ethos of Carers Voice is to work in co-production with Carers on all projects. We are an integral part of the co-production process with the Integrated Care System in Norfolk and Waveney and provide guidance on areas of strategic change that will support Carers wellbeing.
Carers Voice hold local Carer Involvement Meetings every quarter in five areas across Norfolk and Waveney: North Norfolk, South Norfolk, East Norfolk and Waveney, West Norfolk, and Norwich/Central Norfolk. These meetings are for Carers to come together with other Carers and practitioners working in the local area to share feedback about services and support.
Carers Voice also have a bi-monthly newsletter, which includes local and national items of interest, policy changes and events for Carers.
Contact details and social media:
- Email: info@carersvoice.org
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Carers Support from Health and Social Care Organisations
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Norfolk County Council
Adult Social Services
Adult Social Services can help support you as a Carer. Please visit the Norfolk County Council website for more information on Adult Social Services support, such as how to receive a Carers Assessment and training available for you.
Childrens Social Services
Childrens Social Services can help support you as a Young Carer. Please visit the Norfolk County Council website for more information on Childrens Social Services.
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Suffolk County Council
Adult Social Services
Adult Social Services can help support you as a Carer. Please visit the Suffolk County Council website for more information on Adult Social Services, such as how to receive a Carers Assessment and training available for you.
Childrens Social Services
Childrens Social Services can help support you as a Young Carer. Please visit the Suffolk County Council website for more information on Childrens Social Services.
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Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT)
Help and advice specifically for Carers is available on NSFT's website, including details on local support groups.
There is a dedicated email address for carers for you to ask questions about anything causing you concern. Please email carersQAservice@nsft.nhs.uk. If you need urgent help, please call 111 and select option 2 to speak to the 24-hour urgent mental health helpline.
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NHS Hospital Trusts
Find out about the support available for carers at the NHS hospital foundation trusts in Norfolk and Waveney, including downloadable resources and visiting information:
- James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn NHS Foundation Trust
Support initiatives for Carers
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Carers Identity Passport
When a person goes into hospital, it can be a difficult time for Carers. Many Carers want to be involved, informed and help provide care. Carers are real experts and know the person they care for well, including complex conditions, learning or communication difficulties or memory loss. They often know about medication, side-effects and how the patient wishes to be cared for.
A Carers Identity Passport has been co-produced with Carers and staff across the Integrated Care System to ensure Carers are identified and recognised in in-patient healthcare settings so they can be involved in decisions which relate to the prevention or diagnosis of illness or the care or treatment of the person they care for. This also enables them to be involved in plans relating to discharge from hospital as soon as feasible, if the person they care for is likely to require care and support.
The card includes the Carers name, a Carer Identity Passport number and issue date. The Identity Passport will be issued by the central organisation, Carers Voice Norfolk and Waveney, who will use the number and issue date to enable the monitoring and evaluation of the scheme.
Carers will be asked to provide basic details. These are email address, name, address, and locality. They will also be asked to confirm their caring status from the following list:
- Carer over 18 caring for adult
- Carer over 18 caring for a child (under 18)
- Carer under 18 caring for adult
- Carer under 18 caring for a child (under 18)
Register for a Carers Identity Passport using the online form here. If you need support to complete the online form, please call 07932095312.
The Carers Identity Passport, Education Pack for Young Carers contains information for Young Carers about being recognised and being included in conversations about the person they look after as well as signposting to support available.
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Carers Emergency Plan and Carers Emergency Card
Norfolk County Council can help with information related to emergency plans.
If you need help to complete the plan, please call the 24-hour helpline – 0344 800 8020.
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Young Carers Emergency Plan
It is important for Young Carers to have an Emergency Plan in place. Young Carers Matter Norfolk can help support you to do so.
To get help writing your Emergency Plan, get in touch using the Quick Enquiry Form, found at www.youngcarersmatternorfolk.org or call them on 0800 083 1148 (phoneline is open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and all calls are free).
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Carers Information Card for vaccinations
Carers Voice Norfolk and Waveney have created a Carers information card, which is to be given out at vaccination appointments for those who are identified as a Carer. Carers Voice are here to give unpaid Carers a voice in the way their services in Norfolk and Waveney are designed, developed and delivered. They are partners within the Carers Matter Norfolk service. The link on the card will take Carers to a Carers to this page.
For more information, please email info@carersvoice.org