Partners in care booklet

If you regularly support someone experiencing difficulties who wouldn’t manage without your help, you are a carer and Our Partner in Care.

As a carer, you have a vital role to play in the treatment of the person you care for and confidentiality will not be used as an excuse to exclude you from contributing to care discussions. This means we will seek your involvement during assessments, care and safety planning and, where possible, inform you of on-going treatment and transfers between teams and services.

Partners in Care booklet [pdf] 1MB

Carers Checklist [pdf] 24KB

 

Carers' rights - what you need to know

Caring can be challenging, but you have important rights to help protect and support you.

At Work

  • Carer's Leave - from day one in your job, you can take up to one week of unpaid leave per year to care for someone. 
  • Flexible Working - you can request flexible working hours or arrangements. See guidance on GOV.UK 
  • Protection from Discrimination - under the Equality Act 2010, you cannot be treated unfairly because you care for someone with a disability or who is protected by law.
  • Time Off for Emergencies - you can take time off to deal with unexpected situations involving dependants. Details on GOV.UK 

Social Care & Support

  • Carer's Assessment - you have the right to ask your local council for an assessment to see what support you might need. 
  • Support Plan - if you meet eligibility, the council may offer practical or emotional support. Contact your local Council
  • Financial Help- you may be able to claim Carer's Allowance or other benefits if you're on a low income or not working. Check eligibility on GOV.UK 

Where to Get Help

The Care Act 2014

  • Entitles carers to an assessment of their needs by the local authority
  • Recognises carers in law in the same way as those they care for 
  • Improves access to support, enabling better planning and prevention of crisis

What is it and what does it mean for me?

The video below provides a further explanation of the Care Act 2014.

Contact your local council

Norfolk County Council

Suffolk County Council
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Money and benefits

Some carers can claim Carer's Allowance but there are also other benefits that you may be able to apply for.

For more information about Carer’s Allowance, please visit the Gov.UK website. 

At NSFT, we work with many Third Sector partners and several of these can provide help, support information, guidance and support for carers​​.​

Please let us know if you need us to direct you to people who can help.

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