Caring for someone close to you

If you support a partner, family member, friend or neighbour who relies on you for help to live their life, you are a carer. Anyone can become a carer and carers come from all walks of life, all cultures and can be any age. You might not see yourself as being a carer; you might just feel you are doing what anyone else would do in the same situation.

It’s important to know if you’re a carer, because as a carer you have rights and can get support with your caring role.

On this page, you will find information to help you understand whether you are a carer, your rights as a carer, and support for carers in Doncaster. 

Are you a carer?

A carer is a person who supports  someone close to them who needs extra help as they grow older, or due to a disability or health condition.

The person you care for could be your:

  • Husband, wife or partner
  • Family member – such as a parent, brother, sister, son or daughter friend or neighbour

You might help the person with:

  • Cleaning or shopping
  • Preparing and eating meals
  • Personal care – such as getting washed and dress, and using the toilet
  • Getting about at home, or going out to work, to see friends or to other places
  • Medical care  - driving them to and from appointments, arranging appointments and helping with medicine dosages or delivery
  • Friendship and emotional support
  • And much more

Carers are sometimes referred to as ‘unpaid carers’ because they are not paid for their caring role. People who receive Carers Allowance are still unpaid carers.

You are not classed as a carer if you have a paid job like a care worker or a support worker, or you work as a volunteer in a caring role.

Your rights as a carer

If you are a carer, you have lots of rights.

There is information about your rights as a carer and what the law says about carers rights  

 Find out what you are entitled to visit Mobiliseonline

Carer’s Assessment

All carers are entitled to a Carer’s Assessment. This is not a test of your skills as a carer or a judgement on how well you are caring for someone.  It is a friendly chat focusing on you, your caring role and whether there is any support you need to help you continue to care. 

The conversation aims to understand how caring is impacting on your own wellbeing and needs and to help create a plan to support you now and in the future.

The Doncaster Carers Wellbeing Service complete Carer’s Assessments on behalf of the City of Doncaster Council.

  • The Making Space team understand the caring role and are able to Identify the help or support you need and help you make plans for the future
  • Help you get support to do the things that matter to you, for example support to stay in work or education or to look after any children you may have
  • help you to meet or connect with other carers

As experts in supporting carers, the Carers Wellbeing Service will also be able to advise if you could claim some benefits and allowances or tax reductions.

To help prepare for a carer’s assessment it is a good idea to make a list of all the things you do in your caring role and how it affects you. You can find more information and advice on the Carers UK website.

To arrange a conversation with the Carers Wellbeing Service, call the team on 01302 986900 or email DoncasterCarers.WellbeingService@makingspace.co.uk

 Carers Wellbeing Service

  

Local support groups

Our carers tell us that speaking with other people who are in a similar situation can be a good way to get advice and support.

 

Find local support groups

Doncaster CarersWellbeing Service offer local support groups for carers. These groups give you the opportunity to meet other carers. You can find more information, at  

CARERS WELLBEING SERVICE


Doncaster Parent Voice is run by parents of disabled children, for families with disabled children. For more information, visit Doncaster Parent Voice or call 01302 637566

Doncaster Partnership for Carers support carers in their caring role by giving you the tools and resources to ensure you are looking after your own health and wellbeing as well as the person you are caring for. You can find out more information, visit Doncaster Partnership for Carers

Mental health support

Doncaster Mind is local charity set up to support people who are experiencing mental health difficulties. Whether you are stressed, anxious, depressed or in a crisis, the charity is here to help. To find out more information visit Doncaster Mind website or call 01302 812190

Caring for someone with dementia

DonMentia provides specialists support to people caring with someone with dementia. You can find more information, visit DonMentia website

Caring for someone with a terminal illness

If you are caring for someone who is approaching the end of their life such as being diagnosed with a terminal illness, it is important to consider recording wishes for care and support. For more information, visit Advanced Care Planning website

 

 

Preparing for an emergency - Get a Doncaster Lions message in a bottle

  • The bottle is a simple, but effective, way to keep essential personal and medical details in one place. Paramedics, police, fire fighters and social services support know to look in the fridge when they see the Lions Message in a Bootle sticker. Bottles can be supplied free of charge. You can apply at Doncaster Lions Message in a Bottle

 

Getting support at work

It can be challenging balancing a job whilst caring for someone. You should talk to your employer to see what support they can offer you. The support can include:

  • Flexible working
  • Taking time off
  • Changing your work arrangements

You can find more advice on your rights at work by visiting Carers UK If you are a Doncaster business you can find practical resources, advice and information to support your employee’s at www.efcdigital.org and enter our unique access code #EFC1849 to register

Free courses for carers

As a carer you will have developed lots of skills and knowledge, and you might want to learn some new skills such as First Aid, moving and handling,  as well as more specific training such as supporting someone with diabetes or dementia or someone who is autistic.

You may also no longer be caring and want to use the skills you have learnt as a carer to support others through a paid role. We also offer a number of courses to help you gain some formal qualifications.

You can find full details of all courses, including how to book your place, in the attached document below.

Carers Master Copy 2023-24
Download (470KB - DOC)
FINAL 2022 ts and cs FOR CARERS
Download (20KB - DOCX)

 

Doncaster's All Age Carers Strategy

Doncaster’s All Age Carer’s Strategy ‘’We hear, we listen, we care, if you care” outlines how the City of Doncaster Council, and partners, will support unpaid carers of all ages undertake the invaluable contribution they make on a daily basis to the people they are supporting, to services and to City.

Visit our carers strategy webpage to read the strategy and find out more. 

Other useful links:

 

 

Last updated: 07 August 2023 14:26:11

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