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Carer's Link Project
Winners of the Community Care "Carers Award" 2003
The Carers' Link Project ensures that Carers have access to information about the support available both locally and nationally to support them in their caring role. It also ensures that Carers receive help and support from Health and Social Care professionals at the earliest point of call.
The project covers the whole of North Staffordshire and supports all Carers.
A member of the Link Team is available, during office hours to answer questions and offer help, information and support.
The Carers' Link Project is one of the services provided by North Staffs Carers Association, which is working in all GP Surgeries, Health Centre and Hospital Wards and other locations in North Staffordshire.
The Link Team
Julie Hammersley
Primary Care County Link Co-ordinator
Tel: 01782 831612
juliehnsca_linkteam@yahoo.co.uk
Lisa Burrows
Primary Care City Link Co-ordinator
Tel: 01782 831612
lisabnsca_linkteam@yahoo.co.uk
Jayne Hurst
Secondary Care Link Co-ordinator
Tel: 01782 831612
jaynehnsca_linkteam@yahoo.co.uk
Marj Caviglia
Carer Link Support Worker
Tel: 01782 831612
marjcnsca_linkteam@yahoo.co.uk
If you need to contact us for further supplies of our referral leaflet 'A Guide to North Staffs Carers Association or any other information please do not hesitate to contact us.
Also if you feel it would be beneficial we would attend staff meetings to update on raising Carer awareness, Carers issues and the services available at North Staffs Carers Association.
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The Carers' Link project offers the following services:
INFORMATION
Provide a file of information for Carers in easy accessible places including GP Surgeries, Hospital wards, Health Centres and many other locations to enable Carers to find the help and support they need.
What people say about the information file:
"Very clear information, broken into categories really well. The colour coding is great, bold, simple to understand and very comprehensive."
"Whatever the enquiry or the questions, the answers and information are in the file".
"The file is brilliant. Lots of information which I found useful and it is in the waiting area where everyone can see it."
"I searched everywhere for a phone number and then I looked in your file and there it was!"
Provide information on services for Carers to professionals, partner agencies and Carers themselves.
Provide Carers' Notice Boards in Hospital wards, GP Surgeries, Health Centres and various other locations in North Staffordshire.
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REFERRAL LEAFLET
To improve ease of access to the project we have produced a new leaflet complete with tear off slip, just four pieces of information to fill in, send back FREEPOST, we do the rest.
Ideal to take out into the community/home visits for you Link Contacts, if you feel these would be useful contact your Link Co-ordinator.
Easy for Carers to make a self referral. You can get these new leaflets either from your GP Surgery, Hospital Ward or by contacting the Link Team on 01782 831612.
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RAISING AWARENESS OF CARERS ISSUES
We work closely with Carer Link Contacts in all GP Surgeries, Health Centres and Hospital wards.
We produce a training manual and provide training and ongoing support for all our Carer Link Contacts.
We provide an annual Carer Link Contact Workshop for all our Carer Link Contacts.
Deliver presentations to staff and the public to raise awareness of Carers issues.
We attend networking events and co deliver in partnership with other professionals such as the Fire Service, Health Professionals, Social Care and other voluntary services.
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CARER LINK CONTACTS
In all the places that have a file of information, we have asked a member of staff to act as a Link between the staff who work there, the Carers that they come into contact with and North Staffs Carers Association. This member of staff is called the Carer Link Contact.
He or she looks after the file on a day to day basis and is available to help Carers look through the file to find the information they need. Link contacts come in a variety of 'disguises' - including practice managers, surgery reception staff, nurses, ward sisters and social care officers.
If you need help looking through the file or have any questions about your caring role ask to speak to a Carer Link Contact.
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CARERS' REGISTERS
A Carers' Register is one way for a surgery or health centre to keep track of which of their patients are Carers. This enables health care staff to offer Carers appropriate help and support.
If you are a Carer it is important that you tell your surgery that you are caring for someone, and ask for your name to be put on the surgery's Carers' Register.
The Carers' Link Team have designed Carers' "Identity Cards", which Carers can hand in at the surgery. The card identifies the holder as a Carer and asks for their name to be added to the Register. If you would like one of these cards to take into your GP Surgery, please contact The Link Team on 01782 831612
((Please note: not all surgeries have Carers' Registers. You will need to ask whether your surgery has one.)
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'NEW' WALLETS NOW AVAILABLE
The plastic wallet is ideal to safely store your 'Carer Cards' and important information regarding medication or medical conditions.
The easily fit into your wallet/purse and enable you to be identified as a Carer should you be involved in an accident or taken ill whilst away from home.
If you would like to receive a Wallet and Carer Cards please contact the Link Team on 01782 831612 or alternatively to request your Wallet and Carer Cards use the order form on the Mailing List/Order Form page.
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WORKING WITH HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE PROFESSIONALS
An important part of the Link Team's work is ensuring that Health and Social Care professionals are able to help and support Carers.
The team stays in regular contact with those professionals whose work brings them into contact with Carers and ensures that they are aware of Carers' issues and of the many options available for offering help and support.
You will find more information about our work with professionals on the "Information for Professionals" page.
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HELPING CARERS MAINTAIN THEIR HEALTH AND WELLBEING
As a Carers Association we understand that a vast amount of Carers do not actually see themselves as Carers and so do not receive the help and support they so desperately deserve.
In Staffordshire alone there are estimated to be over 80, 000 Carers. For this reason it is imperative that NSCA provides the best resources to support Carers. A Carer is someone who, without payment, looks after a partner, child, other family member or friend who has an illness or disability and would not be able to manage without this help. Being a Carer can affect anybody of any age, gender or culture and often without warning.
A Carers' lifestyle is frequently restricted and many Carers become mentally and physically exhausted by their caring role. This can cause the Carers' health to break down. 65% of Carers find that their health is adversely affected by the pressure of caring. Every year significant numbers of Carers are forced to stop caring because of illness or injury. Much of this can be prevented, by providing Carers with information and support.
The Link Team have therefore given the "Health Care for Carers, Self Health Checklist" a revamp, in the hope that the booklet will draw Carers' attention and subsequently provide them with a wealth of information to ensure that they also take good care of themselves. It is imperative that Carers understand that their health is as important as that of the person they care for.
If you feel you can benefit from the Carers Self Health Checklist, please contact The Link Team on 01782 831612 to receive your free copy. Alternately you can use the order form on the Mailing List / Order Form page.
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North Staffs Carers Association is a Company Limited by Guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Registered Number 3313461.
Registered Office: Unit 2, Burslem Enterprise Centre, Moorland Road, Burslem, Stoke on Trent, ST6 1JQ
Tel: 01782 834 836 (answerphone out of hours) Fax: 01782 831 610
North Staffs Carers Association is a registered charity. Charity number 1062548
This web site is supported by funding from Staffordshire County Council and Stoke on Trent City Council.
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