Caring with Confidence |
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What is an unpaid carer?
Many of us do not see ourselves as carers straight away: we are mums and dads, husbands, wives, partners, brothers, sisters, friends and neighbours. We are simply doing what anyone would, helping a loved one or friend, supporting them when they are unable to do things for themselves.
However by taking on these tasks, means that in addition to your every day roles, you are also a carer and information can help you find out what you need to know. No one likes to be labelled, but recognising yourself as a carer can be the gateway to getting help and support you need to help you and the person you care for.
The 2001 Census, for the first time, asked a question about the provision of unpaid care. It asked 'do you look after, or give any help or support to family members, friends, neighbours or others because of long-term physical or mental ill-health or disability, or problems related to old age? Do not count anything you do as part of your paid employment'.
So a carer could be anyone who would answer ‘yes’ to this question.
This is different from a paid carer, professional carer or care worker – for example, someone who works for social services or in a care home. Of course, there are also some people who do both. Many carers juggle both work and caring, and a number of carers had to give up their job to take on a full-time caring role.
Carers Chat |
South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to be named provider of the Caring with Confidence sessions for South Essex and Chelmsford and wants to ensure that all carers are able to benefit from this programme.
Caring with Confidence, a free Department of Health backed knowledge and skills based learning experience are now available to all carers aged 18 and over living in south Essex.
It is an opportunity for you to have time away from caring, meet with others in similar situations, and gain the confidence, information, and skills to help in you in your caring role and improve your life and of the person your are looking after.
The sessions are planned all over south Essex, at different times during the week, including evenings and weekend to meet your needs. It covers a range of subjects, from medication to emergencies at home, how to maximise your income, to how to get the best from communicating with professionals.
NEW LOCAL WEBSITE FOR LOCAL CARERS -www.southwestessexcarers.co.uk |
The sessions are planned all over south Essex, at different times during the week, including evenings and weekend to meet your needs. It covers a range of subjects, from medication to emergencies at home, how to maximise your income, to how to get the best from communicating with professionals. See below for more information on Caring with Confidence and the dates and venues in your area for the sessions. (Carers can go on any session in any area) Please complete the registration form and send it to the address shown at the end of this article.
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| The George Hurd Centre, Audley Way, Basildon, Essex SS14 2FL | ||
| Finding Your Way | TBA | TBA |
| Caring & Me | TBA | TBA |
| Caring and Life | TBA | TBA |
| Caring & Communicating | TBA | TBA |
| Caring & Coping |
TBA | TBA |
| Caring & Resources | TBA | TBA |
| Caring Day to Day | TBA | TBA |
| Download registration form here | ||
| The Learning Shop, The Old Post Office, 17 George Street, Grays, Essex, RM17 6NS | ||
| Caring & Me | TBA | TBA |
| Caring & Life | TBA | TBA |
| Caring & Communicating | TBA | TBA |
| Caring & Coping | TBA | TBA |
| Caring & Resources | TBA | TBA |
| Caring for Someone with Dementia | TBA | TBA |
| Caring for Someone with Mental ill Health | TBA | TBA |
| Download Registration Form here | ||
| SAVS Centre, 29-31 Alexandra Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1BW | ||
| Caring & Me | TBA | TBA |
| Caring & Life | TBA | TBA |
| Caring & Communicating | TBA | TBA |
| Caring & Coping | TBA | TBA |
| Caring & Resources | TBA | TBA |
| Caring for someone with Dementia | TBA | TBA |
| Caring for someone with Mental ill health | TBA | TBA |
| Download registration form here | ||
| The Harland Centre, Balmoral Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 7DM | ||
| Finding Your Way | TBA | TBA |
| Caring and Me | TBA | TBA |
| Caring and Life | TBA | TBA |
| Caring and Communicating | TBA | TBA |
| Caring and Coping | TBA | TBA |
| Caring and Resources | TBA | TBA |
| Caring Day to Day | TBA | TBA |
| Caring for Someone with Dementia | TBA | TBA |
| Caring for Someone with Mental ill Health | TBA | TBA |
| Download registration form here | ||
If you are interested in taking part or would like more information about Caring with Confidence please contact:
Debbie Lierens, Carers Project Co-ordinator, Carers Development Team
Telphone: 01277 265353, Mobile: 07903 188673,
Email: deborah.lierens@southessex-trust.nhs.uk
Other forthcoming Carer Events and Information:-
Christmas Carol Service - Thursday 15 December 2011 from 11.00 to 13.30
We are pleased to invite you to our Carers and Family Carol Service, to be held at The Salvation Army, Hadleigh, at 11am on Thursday 15 December.
SEPT and The Salvation Army are delighted to be organising this Carol Service for carers and their families. What better way to start the festive season than by coming along and joining in our Carol Service and spending time with family and friends.
Times:
• 11.00 Carol Service starts
• 12.00 Refreshments
• 13.30 Close;.
Venue:
The Salvation Army
Hadleigh Temple Corps
146 - 148 London Road
Hadleigh
Essex SS7 2PF
Car parking is limited so we recommend that you park in the Morrisons car park, which is opposite The Salvation Army.
Should you wish to join us, please download, complete and return the reply form or telephone the Carers Development Team on 01277 265353/4 or alternatively e-mail Stephen Rabbitts at stephen.rabbitts@sept.nhs.uk. We would be grateful if you could reply as soon as possible as this will help us plan our catering requirements.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Become a Volunteer
Would you like to help other carers who care for someone with a mental health condition, learning disabilities or dementia? The Carers Development Team is looking for carers to become volunteer tutors for carers' courses and to support other carers with advice and information, and to help carers complete the Carers Needs Assesment form. Full Training given. Download more information here or contact Stephen Rabbits on the numbers shown at the bottom of the page.
SEPT is running 3 Expert Patient Programmes (EPP) in 2011 for people with Mental health illnesses (service users) who are accessing SEPT services.
EPP is very similar to ‘Looking After Me’ (see below), and the 1st course is starting in January
EPP is delivered by two trained and accredited volunteer tutors who have a mental health illness themselves (services users). The programme is for people with mental health illnesses and aim’s to develop their own ability, confidence, motivation and skills to cope with their own life circumstances.
The course is open to anyone accessing SEPT services who can commit to the 6 week course (Three hours per week). Places on the course are limited so please register as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
The course is free and participants' travel costs can be reimbursed. If you use public transport please provide a receipt, if you use your own transport you will be reimbursed at 40p per mile. If you cannot use public transport for any reason, then other transport arrangements can be made.
Venues and forthcoming dates:
Next date to be advised
Download Registration form here
Stephen Rabbitts
Carers Project Manager
SEPT
Carers Development Team
Brentwood Resource Centre, Highwood Hospital, Geary Drive, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9DY
Telphone 01277 265353/4
stephen.rabbitts@sept.nhs.uk
A Self-Management Course for Carers
As a carer, and having talked to many who are committed to caring for family members or friends, there are several very big worries that we all seem to have in common. I'd hesitate to put them in an order of importance for all of us, but for me, the "small hours of a sleepless night worry list" probably includes "What can I do to make life more comfortable for the person I look after?" "How will we cope as her disability worsens as it inevitably will?" "Are there any treatments which might help of which I'm not aware?" "Will we be able to have the luxuries which make life easier and more comfortable when I retire next year?" But the biggest worry of all for me, and for a great many of us as carers is, "WHAT ON EARTH WOULD WE DO IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME?" I have chronic health problems myself which could become worse, or like any of us, I could have an accident and be killed or disabled.
Despite having this big worry, like most carers, for a long time my own needs were the last that I thought about in my busy demanding life. Then I found out about "Looking After Me", a course aimed at those with caring responsibilities which is packed full of advice and techniques to help carers look after their own health and needs. I took the course, which is run by tutors who are carers themselves, and which only runs for six half day sessions and it has made the world of difference to me and to the person I care for. It impressed me so much that I took the training course and have become a tutor myself!
"Looking After Me" taught me several techniques to aid relaxation and sleep; ways to distract my mind from worries or whilst doing those boring or horrible jobs that we all have to do. It's taught me that I need to 'be kind' to myself – to make sure that I have some time for myself, to keep up some of my interests or hobbies. I learned how to protect my interests and those of the person I care for by both of us making Advanced Statements stating what we would like to happen if illness made us unable to make our own decisions.
Details of the content of the course are given below but, the item not listed but probably the most valuable, is the support shared with the other attendees who have similar problems and concerns; their generosity in sharing useful tips and advice has been invaluable and now, as a tutor, learn more and more from each group.
Joyce Culling,
Carer and Looking After Me Tutor
Who can take part?
Carers who are giving help to a relative or friend. Who is ill, disabled, elderly or in need of emotional support. Carers must be over 18 years of age. The carer or the cared for, are receiving any services from SEPT.
The course looks at:
- relaxation techniques
- dealing with tiredness
- exercise
- healthy eating
- coping with depression
- communicating with family, friends and professionals
- planning for the future
How can it help Carers?
By taking part in a Looking after Me course, carers will:
- Learn new skills to help to cope with your caring situation
- Develop the confidence to take more control of their life
- Meet with others who share similar experiences
How has it helped others?
People who have taken part in a “Looking after Me” course have reported that it has helped them to:
- feel confident and more in control of their life
- manage their caring situation more effectively
- be realistic about the impact of their caring situation on themselves and their family
- develop more effective relationships with health and care professionals
- use their skills and knowledge to lead a fuller life.
- become tutors themselves
Venues and forthcoming dates:
Room 165, 12 Castle Road, Rayleigh, SS6 7QF
- Wednesday 11th January 2012 - 9.30am to 12.30pm
- Wednesday 18th January 2012 - 9.30am to 12.30pm
- Wednesday 25th January 2012 - 9.30am to 12.30pm
- Wednesday 1st February 2012 - 9.30am to 12.30pm
- Wednesday 8th February 2012 - 9.30am to 12.30pm
- Wednesday 15th February 2012 - 9.30am to 12.30pm
Download Registration form here
For more information see the attached leaflet or contact:
Stephen Rabbitts
Carers Project Manager
SEPT
Carers Development Team
Brentwood Resource Centre, Highwood Hospital, Geary Drive, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9DY
Telphone 01277 265353
stephen.rabbitts@sept.nhs.uk
click here to download the 'Young Carers' pack, which contains Information for young people who live with someone who has mental illness
click here to download the 'Carers Support Group listing (issue 4 2011), Do you look after someone? then find a support group near you. (New groups will be added as they are identified.)
click here to download the 'carers week' Newsletter Issue 1 2011 - The true face of carers
click here to download the 'Who Cares? Newsletter Issue 2 March 2010,
click here to download the 'Who Cares? Newsletter Issue 1 Jan 2010, The first Newsletter for the Who Cares? campaign
click here to download the 'For Carers Newsletter Issue 9 May 2011, Lots of information, case studies etc for carers
click here to download the 'For Carers Newsletter Issue 8 December 2010, Lots of information, case studies etc for carers
click here to download the 'For Carers Newsletter Issue 7 May 2010, Lots of information, case studies etc for carers
click here to download the 'For Carers Newsletter Issue 6 Dec 2009, Lots of information, case studies etc for carers
NB: Some information (i.e. Newsletters etc) is in 'pdf' format and requires Adobe Reader .Adobe Reader can be downloaded by clicking here. ..........
(Some of these newsletters etc can be quite large and take a while to download)
Stephen Rabbitts
Carers Project Manager
Carers Development Team
South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Brentwood Resource Centre, Highwood Hospital, Geary Drive, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9DY
Telphone 01277 265353
or by email at stephen.rabbitts@sept.nhs.uk
Picture Credits
"Handicapped boy" © Tomasz Markowski | Dreamstime.com