SERVICES

"One to one, home visiting, face to face and emotional support for carers."

OVERVIEW

Care for Carers provides a number of services for carers, from one-to-one support and assistance to short breaks and events within Edinburgh and further afield. Event schedules are announced throughout the year; the latest information is mailed out to members and published on this website along with updates to our online calendar.

Current services described on this page:


SUPPORT SERVICES

Sometimes we all need to talk, but a caring role can be particularly overwhelming. There are times when carers need specialist one-to-one support: an ability to call upon someone who understands the nature of the caring situation in particular.

Any carer can email or call our phone lines to talk through a situation with a member of staff. Our phone lines are directly answered by members of staff, so carers are immediately connected to a someone who can talk to them there and then. Through our Carer Support Team, additional support can be offered through home visits — meeting face to face to support the carer to resolve any issues they are dealing with in person.

As a contracted member of the local Health & Social Care Partnership, Care for Carers is able to work on Adult Carer Support Plans with carers. These support plans allow carers to articulate their specific needs in order to continue with their caring role while also having a life outside of caring.

We can also support carers to complete Carer Emergency Plans. These hold all the information on family contacts, wishes for the carer and the cared for person, GP contacts and medical history — something extremely useful to have in place.

A summary of what we can offer:

  • A listening ear and understanding approach.
  • Telephone support.
  • Information, sign-posting and cross referral to services as needed.
  • Face to face meetings and home visits.
  • Support to complete Adult Carer Support Plans.
  • Support to complete Carer Emergency Plans.

Related Documents

C4C Enquiry Form Care for Carers general enquiry form.
C4C Referral Form Care for Carers general referral form.

SHORT BREAKS

Care for Carers creates numerous opportunites for carers to take a break from their caring situation — either by themselves or, occasionally, together with their cared-for person.

Our Stepping Out® Short Breaks programme provides breaks ranging from 1–4 nights which take place in venues and locations across Scotland, for carers to take time on their own away from their caring role. Time out and socialising is plentiful but there is always a programme of activities and events for carers to take part in on tap.

Meanwhile, our Still Caring programme takes the form of seasonal calendars of events incorporating day and evening activities. There are opportunities to learn something new, socialise and have fun with others. We explore the cultural, artistic and natural aspects of life in and around Edinburgh, and there is a full range of online and in-person meeting options. Some Still Caring events may be open to the carer and the cared-for person to come together.

Details on all our programmes can be found here; our combined calendar of events is here.


INFORMATION WORKSHOPS

In response to carer feedback and requests, we hold a number of information workshops and other sessions each year. These cover a range of areas, from legal advice to art workshops.

Over the course of the year these additional activities and events are publicised in our Carers Newsletter and appear in our Still Caring programmes. If we run a workshop and there is high demand for places, we endeavour to repeat it again as soon as possible — so it is always worth signing up for something you are interested in.


NEWSLETTER & MAILOUTS

Care for Carers produces regular Carers Newsletters through the year. The number produced is dependent on the information needs of carers, but is never less than six newsletters annually. 

Our newsletters contain our latest service information, but also include links and updates from services across the city. Carers tell us it is an up-to-date, interesting and useful tool for them to have. Additional information from other providers and sectors is frequently sent out along with the newsletter. All carer newsletters and information leaflets can be accessed online, by email or by post; whichever the carer prefers.

In order to receive the Carer Newsletter and any additional information you just need to sign up for membership of Care for Carers.


Related Documents

Carers Newsletter (Latest) The most recent edition of the Carers Newsletter.
Membership Application Form Application form to become a member of Care for Carers.
Membership Data Consent Form Our consent form for email and contact addresses.


CARE GUIDANCE SERVICE

For carers needing advice on social care and long term care options

(VIA CARERS TRUST)

Through our partnership with Carers Trust, we are able to offer Care for Carers members free access to Legal & General's Care Concierge Guidance service. This is a confidential guidance service which allows you to speak directly to an expert about finding later life care for a loved one.

The service provides our members with access to the following free services:

  • A 30-minute telephone session with a care expert.
  • A state funding assessment to evaluate if you are eligible for government support.
  • An understanding of what kind of care is needed and how to arrange this care.
  • Guidance on typical care costs and the ways of paying for your care.
  • An email summarising everything discussed, care guides tailored to your situation, and lists of relevant services.
  • Further support via a free care service digital platform.

To make use of the service there is:

  • A dedicated phone line: 0800 086 9071 (say you received the number from Carers Trust).
  • A webpage providing further details: Legal & General Care Concierge.

Note that you must become a member of Care for Carers in order to use this service.


Related Documents

Legal & General Care Concierge Presentation A presentation on the Carers Trust Care Guidance service.
Membership Application Form Application form to become a member of Care for Carers.
Membership Data Consent Form Our consent form for email and contact addresses.