Click here for more information about Carers Support Hubs 

Registering as a Carer 

Registering as a Carer 

Please let us know if you look after someone, unpaid, who couldn’t cope without your help?

  • We can help to keep you well by offering you a carers healthcheck and seasonal flu jab.
  • We can also refer you to Carers in Herts who provide lots of information and support for carers
  • If you identify yourself as a carer when you call reception, we will try our best to be flexible in booking your appointments including during the late nights and Saturdays that we are open.

To register as a carer please complete the Carers Referral Form and return it to New Road Surgery. We will then identify you as a carer on your medical record and forward this referral form to Carers in Herts. Please note if you send this directly to Carers in Herts then we will not have you recorded as a carer on your clinical record. 

Carers Referral Form

Are you a carer?

 Carers in Hertfordshire aims to help carers take better care of themselves through breaks, leisure and learning opportunities and by ensuring they focus on their own health and wellbeing. They provide information and support to help you in your caring role. They can also help you to identify ways to make time for yourself; focus on your own health needs and access local leisure and learning opportunities.

For more information please go to http://www.carersinherts.org.uk/

 


Information For Carers

If you support someone who could not manage without you, you are a carer. As a carer, you need to look after your own health and wellbeing too.

Carers in Hertfordshire is a local charity providing free help and support to any carer living or working in the county.

Am I a carer?

If you give unpaid help and support to a family member, friend or neighbour who would not be able to manage without you, then you are a carer.

The person you look after might have a physical or learning difficulty, be ill or frail, have mental health problems or misuse drugs or alcohol. They may be your child, partner or parent, or a friend or neighbour, and they might live with you or live elsewhere.

Whatever your situation, make sure your GP knows you are a carer and contact Carers in Hertfordshire for information and support.

Caring with Confidence

Carers in Hertfordshire runs free Caring with Confidence training courses for carers, covering all aspects of caring, including dealing with stress and emotions, balancing caring with a life of your own and maximising your income whilst caring. There are special courses for those caring for people with dementia.

Not only are these courses practical and informative, they are a great place to meet others in the same situation as you and to share experiences.

Make a Difference

Caring takes its toll. Make a Difference is a Carers in Hertfordshire initiative to provide funded breaks for carers. Grants are available for all sorts of things such as gym membership, massage, a weekend away or a new hobby – whatever will have the greatest benefits for your health.

As a carer, Make a Difference can give you a break and help you stay well. Talk to your GP about a referral or contact Carers in Hertfordshire for more information.

Information and advice

Whether you need some help understanding benefits or accessing services, or longer term advice to support you in your caring role, Carer Support Advisors are just a phonecall away. They can help you understand what services are available nearby and how to access them, and help you to have a break from caring. Call today on 01992 58 69 69.

Carers in Hertfordshire also provides specific support for people caring for those with dementia, drug or alcohol issues, mental health problems or learning disabilities, as well as parent carers.

Learning and leisure

Carers in Hertfordshire runs a variety of free courses, workshops and local trips, to give carers a break and some time for themselves. Learn a new skill, like creative writing or digital photography; try a course to help you in your caring, like managing a personal budget or manual handling; or join one of their day trips to local attractions. Whatever you do, it’s a great way to get out and meet new people.

Support groups

Carers in Hertfordshire supports lots of carers groups across the county, and can put you in touch with your local group. Having the time and space to talk to other people who look after someone and understand what you are going through can help you feel less isolated, find out useful information, and have some time to yourself to relax and chat.

Having a voice

Carers in Hertfordshire runs events and forums where you can have your say on local services, what’s working and what needs improving, and give your views to decision makers. Coming together makes the voice of carers stronger and helps make real changes to services.

Young carers

Young carers are young people who help look after someone in their family and take on responsibilities normally handled by an adult. Carers in Hertfordshire’s Young Carers Service supports carers aged 8-18 and their families to make sure their caring responsibilities don’t stop them from having the same opportunities, and social life, that other young people enjoy.

Contact Carers in Hertfordshire

Carers in Hertfordshire exists to support people in their caring role. All their services are free.

Tel: 01992 58 69 69

Email: contact@carersinherts.org.uk Visit: www.carersinherts.org.uk


Carers Hubs—Courses and Workshops

Carers Hubs, along with various workshops and courses are running, mostly virtually. More details can be found here or call our office on number below.

Carers must call to book their place for all virtual events as spaces are limited on: 01992 58 69 69

New Herts Bennie Portable Pendant and Location Service

To meet demand from customers who have asked us to provide a pendant that works outside of the home, we have launched the Herts Bernie Location Service.

Herts Bernie is a St Bernard rescue dog for the 21st century – a portable pendant and reliable companion who can help in an emergency, wherever a person is. It’s the perfect addition (not a replacement) to our community alarm and telecare service, which helps people live independently at home. Now we can offer a solution for when they are out and about too.

How does Herts Bernie work?

The Herts Bernie portable pendant is a small device that combines the functions of a mobile phone with a Global Positioning System (GPS) locator. At any time of day or night they can simply press its SOS button if they need help. A text message with a link to the device location (which will open in Google Maps) will be sent to the family member or friend responder that is appointed upon application, as well as to Herts Careline. The responder will assist in the first instance, but if they are unavailable, an experienced Herts Careline operator will check to see that things are OK and to provide on the spot advice or to summon assistance if needed.

There are two optional extra services (no extra cost)

Location text message  If a family member or friend is concerned about the person’s welfare, they can send a text message to the Herts Bernie device (with their prior permission) and they will receive a message back with its location – this can give much needed assurance to loved ones. and Geofence     

For more information, please visit www.care-line.co.uk/bernie email CarelineSupport@north-herts.gov.uk or call 0300 999 2 999.

The usual Herts Careline community alarm and telecare service is £3.25 per week (+VAT if applicable)

The cost of the Herts Bernie service is £4.85 per week (inc. vat). A person does not need to be an existing customer of Herts Careline to apply for Herts Bernie – it is a service in its own right and as such there are two separate prices.

View the video – featuring our real life star St Bernard!

Herts Bernie can be set up so that if the person leaves a certain set geographical area (a radius which can be set from 100m to 5km from the home) the linked responder and the Control Centre will receive an automatic alert so that we can check that things are OK and they’re safe. This geofence distance can be tailored and adjusted to suits their needs.

Carers Direct

Content Supplied by NHS Choices

Are You a Carer?

If you are please let us know – we may be able to help you

There is a wealth of information on the NHS website about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.

Contact Carers Direct

Telephone
0808 802 0202
Helpline Information
http://www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/carerslives/updates/pages/carersdirecthelpline.aspx
Email
CarersDirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk
Office Hours
Lines are open 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls are free from UK landlines.

Finance and Law

Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.

  • Benefits for carers

    Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role

  • Benefits for the under-65s

    Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to.

    Benefits for the over-65s

    Advice and information on financial support for older people with a disability or illness.

  • Carer’s Assessment

    How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits

  • Other benefits

    Advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring