Medway Carers Centre aims to encourage people
who are family carers to make use of the help that is available to them as
family carers, both locally and nationally.
This pack has been designed by Medway Carers
Centre. We have tried to make it straightforward, but it may not include
everything you need to know; we hope it will help you to begin to find the
information you need, but if you do discover helpful information, which is
not included, please let us know.
Community Care Assessments are
assessments for a cared for person they should take account of the needs
of the individual, with the aim of providing appropriate services that
meet these needs. As part of this assessment, the opinions and concerns of
family carer’s should be taken into account. To have a Community Care
assessment you need to contact the local authority Social Services and
they will decide whether your cared for person meets their eligibility
criteria for services from the local authority. If they do meet the
criteria you are entitled to ask for a carers Assessment, and whilst you
are not eligible for services you may receive services indirectly through
the cared for persons care package.
The Carers Recognition and Services Act 1995
& The Carers & Disabled Children’s Act 2000
are important to family
carers. This means anybody who is giving or intends to give regular
and substantial care is entitled to an assessment of his or her ability to
care and to continue to care. Provided the person they care for has had a
Community Care Assessment and is eligible for services. If the person
refuses services they are eligible for, a family carer may still be
eligible for an assessment.
Occasionally you may receive a poor quality
service. If this happens please do not accept this. If you are not
satisfied, speak to the Manager of the service being provided. If the
problem is not resolved satisfactorily, you should make a formal complaint
through the organisation’s Complaints Procedure. Making a complaint need
not mean being negative. If service providers are not aware of your
concerns they cannot make changes and improve services.
May we encourage you not just to ask for an
assessment of your needs, but also to join with other family carers,
nationally and locally, to share your own experiences and also to add your
voice to those who are speaking on your behalf to planners, both at
government or local level. In this way, we hope understanding of family
carers’ needs will improve and better services will be provided.
