Carers Support Service

Who is a Carer?

A carer is someone who regularly provides a substantial amount of care to a family member, friend or neighbour who is ill, disabled or is an older person.

A carer could be:

• A young person under 18 looking after a parent/brother/sister;
• Looking after a relative with a disability;
• The parent of a child with special needs;
• A friend or relative looking after an older person

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• Meet the Team

  

  Geraldine McLaughlin

  Carers Coordinator

  Rossabbey Office
  Abbey Street, Londonderry, BT48 9DN

  078 1015 6551
  028 7135 5023
  GeraldineAnn.McLaughlin@westerntrust.hscni.net

  

  Caroline Rooney

  Team Administrator
  2 Coleshill Road
  Enniskillen
  BT74 7HG
  0286634 4217
  Caroline.Rooney@Westerntrust.hscni.net

• Carers Support Service Information | ISL and BSL

  Carers Support Information | ISL

  Carers Information Support | BSL

• Carers Handbook and Further Resources

  Download the Carers Support information leaflet:

  English     Arabic     Bulgarian     Cantonese     Lithuanian     Mandarin
  Polish     Portuguese     Romanian     Russian     Slovak     Somali

  You do not have to be in receipt of Carers Allowance to be a carer. Some carers do not qualify for this benefit. For more information please download the Carers Allowance Factsheet.

  Download the Western Trust Carers Handbook: an essential source of help and support for people who are looking after someone.

  

• Carers Activities Programme

  The Carers Support Team run a number of online and in-person programmes for Carers. For up to date information on what is currently available check out the most recent Carers Newsletter or contact the Carers Support Team on (028) 7135 5023

• Carers Support Needs Assessment

  As a carer who provides regular and substantial care, you are eligible for a support needs assessment. This is an opportunity for you to sit down with a member of staff and discuss the impact of the caring role on all aspects of your life.

  Carer support needs assessments are confidential and the Trust will seek your consent around who information can be shared with, if appropriate in order to agree supports for you. This may be specialist information, or a referral to a support group.

  The outcome of the assessment will be discussed to see if Social Services or another agency can meet your needs. Any needs that are not met will be recorded as evidence of services that we cannot provide.

  Please see the Carers Handbook for further information.

• Carers Group Cash Grants

  Any Carers group that is constituted and meets on a regular basis (at least bi-monthly) can apply for up to £500. The money can be used for any activities provide support for Carers that will benefit their health and well-being. The funding cannot be used for activities for the persons being cared for. The grant is normally open from September until early December for applications. To find out more contact the Carers Support Team 028 6634 4163 or 028 7135 5023

• Carers Walking Groups

  The Carers Support Team run three Carers Walking Groups.

  Tuesday – Omagh, usually meet at the Leisure Centre at 10.00 am

  Thursday – Londonderry, usually meet at Sainsbury’s at 11.00 am

  Friday – Fermanagh, meet at Community Services, Coleshill, Enniskillen at 11.00 am

  To find out more contact the Carers Support Team 028 6634 4163 or 028 7135 5023

  Times and venues may vary. Please contact a member of the team ahead of time.

• Help and Advice

  For help and advice about benefits:

  Omagh Independent Advice Service
  Telephone: 028 8224 3252

  Dove House Resource Centre, Londonderry
  Telephone: 028 7126 9327

  The Resource Centre, Londonderry
  Telephone: 028 7135 2832

  Churches Advice Centre, Spencer Rd, Londonderry
  Telephone: 028 7134 2536

  Rosemount Community Resource Centre, Londonderry
  Telephone: 028 7128 2829

  Limavady Community Development Initiative (LCDI)
  Telephone: 028 7776 5438

  Advice North West:
  Embassy Court, 3 Strand Road, Derry
  Spencer House, 14-21 Spencer Road, Derry
  17 Dock Street, Strabane
  Phones: 0300 303 3650
  028 7136 2444
  028 7134 2536
  028 7138 2665

  Community Advice Fermanagh
  Fermanagh House, Broadmeadow Place, Enniskillen
  Phone: 028 6632 4334
  Facebook

  Carers NI  also provide advice and support via a helpline Telephone: 028 9043 9843

• Carers Newsletter

  More information on the Carers Mailing List and to view the Latest Carers Newsletters.

• Benefits Information

  The criteria for Carers Allowance is that carers have to be caring for more than 35 hrs/week. Carers who care for more than 20 hrs in the week are entitled to claim Carers Credit, which means they will have credits allocated towards their pension. Carers who fall into the category of caring between 20 -34 hrs per week can Claim Carers credits by completing an application which can be accessed on the NI Direct website by clicking here or contact Carers Allowance Branch,  Belfast Tel:  028 9090 6186, and they will post a form out.

  • Carer Benefit Fact Sheet
  • Find out more about the DSD programme focusing on helping improve benefits uptake 
  • Carers Allowance Digital Service (apply online)
• Children and Young People Strategic Partnership

  Resource and activity pack to support children and young people with a disability, and to support children and young people with their mental health. The pack also includes a host of other resources and activities

  

• Useful Links

   

  • A – Z  for Carers
  • Carers and Discharge
  • Carers NI
  • Lifeline helpline  – 0808 808 8000
  • Deaf / Hard of Hearing Carers Toolkit
  • NI Direct – Caring for Someone details
  • UK Carers – Help and Advice
  • Carers Rights Guide NI
  • Ethnic Minority Carers NI Report

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Locations where this service is delivered

• Altnagelvin Area Hospital

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Contacts