A carer is someone who looks after a relative or friend who is frail, disabled or ill
Southwark Carers
Cambridge House
131 Camberwell Rd
London
SE5 0HF
T: 020 7708 4497
News archive - July / August 2006
The following stories are taken from our bi-monthly newsletter, which is sent to all our members. Contact us for your copy and to join our mailing list.
Click here for previous editions
Could you speak up for carers?
Are you interested in the wider issues that carers face?
Could you speak on behalf of all carers in the borough?
It is important that local service providers and decision makers know both who carers are and the issues that effect them. Southwark Carers and other organisations in the borough work hard to try and achieve greater recognition and support for carers. Now we also want to provide opportunities for carers themselves to get involved.
Carers Voices is a new project that will support interested carers to get more involved in local forums, groups and decisions. Members of the group will be supported to represent the experiences and views of all carers in Southwark and feedback on their meetings with local professionals.
Southwark Carers gathers anonymous data on carers’ concerns and this information, along with national research, is available to all carers and professionals in our resource centre. Members of Carers Voices will be supported to draw on this information to decide on the key issues and who to take them to.
The broad topics that you may be interested in getting involved in include:
· Health and Social Care
· Transport and mobility
· Money and benefits
· Local community
· Health and well-being
· Carers’ rights
· Breaks from caring
· Employment, training and education
· Housing
You may also be interested in representing carers’ views on services for particular service user groups e.g.
· learning disabilities
· older people
· physical / neurological / sensory disabilities
· mental health
To find out more about Carers Voices a launch event is being held on 7th September 10am-3pm at Inspire, St Peters Church, Liverpool Grove (off Walworth Road), SE17 2HH.
If you are interested in attending please contact us.
NEWS - click for full story
Lets Make Some Changes workshops
Carers' views on Carers Allowance - Department of Work and Pensions response
Do you want to surprise someone with a home makeover?
Carers Week 2006 in Southwark!
Advice and information aout DIRECT PAYMENTS
Macmillan Cancer Support - Better Deal Campaign
ARTICLES - click for full story
Volunteering in the community - Article by Volunteer Centre Southwark
Befriending for the elderly - Article by Southwark Churches Care
Why not join a carers' group? - A great way to meet new friends and find out useful information
Top tips for dealing with professionals
Hospital Travel Costs Scheme - Assistance with hospital travel costs for those on a low income
Welcome to the July / August edition of Southwark Carers News.
This issue we are looking at ways of getting involved in your local community, and the support that your community can offer you as a carer.
In September Southwark Carers, along with Southwark Health & Social Care and Taifa are launching the new Carers Voices group. This group, which you can read about on the front page, aims to let service providers know about carers’ issues and support carers themselves to represent the interests of all carers across the borough. If you would like to find out more please contact us, and we hope to see many of you at the launch event on 7th September at Inspire.
Also on the theme of local community we have articles from organisations that work in Southwark who aim to promote social inclusion. Being a carer can be an isolating experience but there are support services that you may find useful. It could be a carers support group in your local GP surgery, a befriending scheme, or a few hours volunteering - it is surprising how taking some time to meet others in your community can make such a big difference to your outlook on life.
In the next issue we will be looking at issues around health and well-being and ways to make sure you, as a carer, keep fit and healthy. You are very welcome to contact us at any time with articles, stories, poems or news on any topic relating to caring - this is your newsletter, so please do contribute.
Southwark Carers News, Freepost (LON 1017), London, SE5 0BR or email: newsletter@southwarkcarers.org.uk
TOP TIPS FOR DEALING WITH PROFESSIONALS
Keep a diary. Note down the name, job title and department of any professional you have contact with. Make notes of any conversations - this can help aid your memory at a later date.
Make copies of letters and forms that you send. Keep these copies in one place along with the correspondence you receive. Ask when you can expect a reply and put this in your diary.
Try to keep to deadlines. Although it can be difficult as a carer, it is important to return forms and arrive to appointments on time.
Be friendly particularly to ‘gatekeepers’ such as receptionists. Bear in mind that these are the people you may speak to the most often and they could be a great help to you!
Take someone else with you to appointments. There may often be a lot to take in at meetings with professionals and they can be emotional and overwhelming. Taking someone with you offers support and an extra pair of ears to hear what has been said. You can also ask this person to take notes.
Let the professional know in advance if you have any interpretation or access needs e.g. if English is not your first language, you need documents in an accessible format, or you have mobility problems.
Make a list before the meeting of the main points you want to discuss and the outcomes you are hoping for.
Before leaving the meeting make sure you find out what is happening next. Put future dates in your diary and make sure you have the details of anyone else you need to contact.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Sometimes professionals may use jargon or assume you know what they are talking about. Keep asking until whatever is unclear has been explained in a way that makes sense to you.
If you are unclear or unhappy about anything make sure the professional knows. A brief telephone call may be all that is needed to sort things out. Let people know in writing if things start to go badly wrong. It is also good to let them know if they have helped and things have worked out well!
Ask for support from Southwark Carers. We have an experienced and knowledgeable team that is here to help you. To make an appointment please call us on 020 7708 4497.
Positive thinking workshops for carers - to help you learn to love yourself and bring more joy into your life.
24th July and 21st August
10am - 3pm (including lunch)Rainbow Room, Cambridge House, 131 Camberwell Road, SE5 0HF
For more details and to book your place please call 020 7708 4497.
CARERS’ VIEWS ON CARERS ALLOWANCE
Department of Work & Pensions responseIn April The Princess Royal Trust for Carers gathered the opinions of 300 carers on the Carers Allowance. Unsurprisingly the majority of respondents criticised the extremely low level at which it is paid, including comments such as:
“CA is a bare faced insult. I care between 140-168 hours a week for my 21 year old autistic son for 33p an hour.”
“I feel our government holds family/unpaid carers in utter contempt.”
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers took these comments to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) Policy and Strategy Forum.This meeting was chaired by the DWP and attended by representatives from 27 different organisations. The report from The Princess Royal Trust for Carers was well received by all.
However, the initial immediate response of the policy representatives of the Disability Carers Service was disappointing. To quote: "Reforming Carers Benefits is not a priority in the current climate. It would cost hundreds of millions to reform the Carers Allowance."
At that point members of the Policy and Strategy Forum contributed and pointed out that the Department could consider implementing reform by first tackling measures which are low cost or would involve no cost at all.
Two examples given were reforming the rules about not being allowed to claim Carers Allowance and be a full-time student. The definition of a full-time course is very variable and for many carers a full-time course may involve as little as 6 hours a week out of the house and the rest of the study is undertaken at home, enabling them to care for at least 35 hours a week and still study. Many forum members pointed out that carers wanted to study so that when their caring responsibilities eased or stopped they would have better opportunities to return to work.
The other low cost reform, or indeed one which might benefit the Government would be to lift the earning restriction for claiming Attendance Allowance, provided the carer still cared for at least 35 hours a week.
It was pointed out by a forum member that the current criteria for claiming Carers Allowance is in contradiction to the 2006 Government White Paper, Your Health, Your Care, Your Say and the Carers Equal Opportunities Act 2004.
There was also a suggestion that Carers Allowance could be linked to different levels of Disabled Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance and be determined in the same way, by circumstances rather than by being means tested. Many forum members felt that Carers Allowance linked to income maintenance was now very outdated and did not meet carers’ current situations.
At this stage in the meeting the agenda item was drawn to a close with an assurance from the DWP representatives that policy on carers’ issues was currently under review by an internal DWP review group and the views expressed at the Strategy and Policy Forum would be fed into the review.
If you would like to read the full details of the report you can visit The Princess Royal Trust for Carers website: www.carers.org or you can read a copy in Southwark Carers resource centre (drop-in any Wednesday 3pm-5pm, or fortnightly Thursdays 5.30pm-7.30pm).
DO YOU WANT TO SURPRISE SOMEONE WITH A HOME MAKEOVER?
Granada Television are looking for homes to makeover in the new series of the hit daytime programme 60 Minute Makeover, on ITV1.
Granada are looking for people who need a complete interior restyle – they’ve got the money, the designers and the people power, if you’ve got the inclination.
In just an hour it will be out with all the old cushions, curtains, appliances, rugs, blinds and furniture, and in with a whole new set of brand new gear in up to four rooms of the house!
Granada are looking for people who want to surprise their deserving friends or loved ones with a home makeover. Do you live with an extra special someone whose life would be transformed by a makeover, and loves a surprise? If so ITV want to hear from you!
Please call the research team to answer a few quick questions, and you could be in with a chance to give the surprise of a lifetime. For more details please contact: Richard Bentley on 020 7578 4037 or email: richard.bentley.fact@itv.com
VOLUNTEERING IN THE COMMUNITY
Article by Volunteer Centre SouthwarkVolunteering is giving your time for free. The kind of volunteering that we offer is to help with a charity or not for profit community groups, many of which rely heavily upon volunteers to exist . Volunteering is not just about giving; it’s a two-way exchange of skills and experience. Many people volunteer for different reasons including: Gain new skills, meet new people, do something different, gain some experience, ease yourself back into work, get out the house, give something back
Volunteer Centre Southwark has over 500 opportunities for you to help out and get involved in Southwark. Whether you would like to help with some office work, feed a donkey at a city farm or do some youth work, we have the right opportunity for you. Opportunities are flexible and could be anything from a couple of hours a month, one evening a week to a few days. As well as 'traditional' volunteer roles we also have lots of information about how to get involved in the community as an 'active citizen'
How can you get involved? For some more information visit www.volunteercentres.org.uk or give us a call on 08000 185 692 to receive an information pack by post. You can view all of our opportunities online or arrange a time to come in for a chat about what is available to you. Also give us a call to find out more about our Active Citizens Hub, supported volunteering project for people who have severe mental health problems or whom are homeless.
BEFRIENDING FOR THE ELDERLY
Article by Southwark Churches CareSouthwark Churches Care puts volunteers in touch with isolated elderly people in their neighbourhoods. They visit their clients for at least an hour a week, and the project can also send volunteers on a one-off basis.
Volunteers may help out with practical tasks, like DIY and gardening, and others take their clients out in their wheelchairs. In an average week, our volunteers make about 100 visits to clients.
We opened for business back in January 1995, and we haven’t stopped growing since! The number of clients and volunteers has increased year on year, and we have enlarged our staff team to cope with demand. We now have approximately 100 volunteers, and we have a waiting list for clients.
To volunteer with us you must be over the age of 16, and we provide full training. Clients must be aged 65+ and live in the northern half of Southwark – that’s SE1, SE5, SE8, SE11, SE15, SE16 or SE17. Most of our clients live alone.
We are always glad to hear from new volunteers or clients – please call us Monday to Wednesday on 020 7252 6381 for more details.
WHY NOT JOIN A CARERS’ GROUP?
A great way to meet new friends and find out useful informationSouthwark Carers runs a number of carers’ groups that meet in locations across the borough. All the groups are open and friendly to new members.
The majority of the groups are run by Lucy, our Health Services Liaison Worker, and are based in GP surgeries. Perhaps there is one in your local surgery? Next time you are there have a look for the Carers Noticeboard which will be on display in the reception area, or ask the reception staff for advice. Alternatively give Lucy a call on 020 7708 4830 and she will be happy to let you know the details of your nearest group.
These groups are informal and relaxed and often have visitors from local organisations / service providers to offer advice and answer any questions. They are also regularly attended by massage therapists who can provide wonderful head or hand massages to help you unwind. All of the groups are a great way to meet other carers in similar situations and make new friends.
Lucy is also arranging a number of groups for carers of people with specific illnesses or disabilities. These groups will offer both support and training, with guests directly relating to the condition of the person you care for. These groups will be a useful opportunity to find answers to any questions you may have. The first group to start up is for carers of people who have suffered a stroke. For more details please contact Lucy on 020 7708 4830.
In June Southwark Carers launched a new evening group, for carers who are unable to attend our events and groups during the day. This group meets fortnightly in the Rainbow Room at Cambridge House, please click here for the forthcoming dates. The timetable for the group is still being planned, but we hope to arrange some activities and guests in the future. You are very welcome to come along and let us know what you would like from this friendly new group.
If you are interested in joining a social, rather than a support group, then you are very welcome to join our activities group which goes on regular day trips. Previous activities have included visits to galleries, gardens and TV shows. The next trip will be a Summer outing to the seaside. To find out more and join the mailing list for regular updates please call us on 020 7708 4497.
Carers Week 2006 in Southwark!
Photo captions:
MP Simon Hughes dropped by. Pictured here with Anthony our Transition Support Worker distributing Superdrug discount vouchers to carers.
Carers received advice from a range of organisations at our information day. Our Health Services Liaison Worker Lucy is pictured providing some advice.
Over 150 carers from across London took part in the carers’ Thames Walk. Anthony and our Information Worker Sarah helped out on the day.
Carers from Southwark and Lambeth joined up to go on day trips to two local art galleries. They were given a guided tour...took part in creative workshops...and a Southwark carer won the top prize for her artistic creation! Click here for details of more FREE art workshops for carers coming up over the Summer!
Southwark Carers organised several events to celebrate Carers Week this year and here are photos from just some of them.
The aim of Carers Week is to find hidden carers, raise the profile of carers’ issues, and celebrate the huge contribution you make to society.
As well as the events detailed above we also took part in Southwark Health and Social Care’s Carers Event in Peckham to find ‘hidden carers’ who are not receiving any support, and placed adverts in the local press asking ‘Do you look after someone?’
Our members were also offered a day full of short massage appointments and we launched two new carers groups. We had a very busy week but enjoyed meeting many new and familiar carers!
HOSPITAL TRAVEL COSTS SCHEME
Assistance with hospital travel costs for those on a low incomeYou may be able to get financial help from the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme if you're on a low income, need NHS treatment at a hospital, other NHS centre or private clinic and have been referred by an NHS hospital consultant.
Who can claim?
You are automatically entitled to claim Hospital Travel Costs Scheme if you (or those you depend on) get at least one of the following: Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Guarantee Pension Credit.
You also qualify if your income is £15,050 or less and you also get one of the following: Child Tax Credit (with or without Working Tax Credit), Working Tax Credit with the disability element or severe disability element.
If an adult or your dependent child has to travel to your treatment with you for medical reasons, you can claim their travel costs too.
If you're on a low income but don’t get any of these benefits or allowances, you may still claim travel costs through the NHS low income support scheme.
How much do you get?
If you're on entitled benefits or allowances you get back the full travel costs by using the cheapest form of public transport available, including any concessions or promotions.
This applies to however you travel. If for example, you use a private car you can claim for petrol instead (and car parking charges where unavoidable) up to the cost of the same journey by public transport. The hospital should tell you the mileage rate for petrol costs for private transport.
If public transport is unavailable or impractical (perhaps you can’t get to your appointment on time or your mobility is restricted), you'll need to contact the hospital well before your appointment. They will need to check your new travel arrangements are allowed.
If you're on the NHS low income scheme you may get back all or some of your travel costs depending on which certificate you've been given.
How to claim
You can claim at the NHS hospital or clinic at the time of your appointment. You’ll be paid back immediately in cash, when you show any of the following: proof of a qualifying benefit (like an award notice), a tax credit exemption certificate (you’ll get this automatically if you qualify), a certificate showing you qualify for the NHS low income support scheme.
To apply for the NHS low income support scheme, you'll need to fill in form HC1. You can order this form by calling the NHS Patient Services helpline 0845 850 1166 (8.00 am to 6.00 pm Monday to Friday - calls are charged at the local rate) or get it from: NHS hospitals, Jobcentre Plus offices, some GP surgeries, dentists and opticians. Your form will be assessed and if you're entitled you'll get a certificate that confirms whether you receive full or partial help with your hospital travel costs.
Backdated claims
You can claim help with travel costs up to three months after your appointment, as long as you can prove you were eligible to claim at the time. To do this, you’ll need to fill in a refund claim form (HC5), which you can get from: NHS hospitals, Jobcentre Plus offices, the NHS Patient Services helpline, on 0845 850 1166 (8.00 am to 6.00 pm Monday to Friday - calls are charged at the local rate).
Need information and advice about Direct Payments?
Contact: Southwark Direct Payments Network
Choices Independent Living & Community Support Service, Unit 4, 11 Mowll Street, London, SW9 6BG
Telephone: 020 7820 5030
(Home visits are available on request)
MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT - Better Deal Campaign
Macmillan Cancer Support’s Better Deal campaign is highlighting the costs incurred by many people affected by cancer, including the cost of travelling to and parking at hospitals.
The campaign is calling for:
An extension of the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) to all cancer patients on a non means-tested basis
The HTCS to be better publicised (click here!) and for reimbursement arrangements to be simplified
Patients undergoing treatment for cancer to be exempt from all hospital charges
Patients travelling to and from hospital for cancer treatment to be exempt from charges and tolls on bridges, roads and tunnels
If you want to join the campaign you can visit Macmillan’s website and fill out an email template to send to your MP. For more information about Macmillan and the costs associated with cancer call 0800 500 800 (lines open Monday to Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 9am-12noon). You can also read a copy of their booklet on financial costs of cancer in Southwark Carers resource centre (drop-in any Wednesday 3pm-5pm, or fortnightly Thursdays 5.30pm-7.30pm).
Southwark Carers Activities Group
Carers’ day trip to the seasideCome and join us for a fun day out in Margate!
Wednesday 26th July
For more details and to book your place please call 020 7708 4497
You are welcome to visit our
Carers Resource CentreBased in the Rainbow Room at Cambridge House our carers’ resource centre is full of information on a range of topics including health and social care, direct payments, housing, education / employment and carers’ rights.
Some of the information is also available in other languages, on cassette, video or DVD, and in Braille.
Every Wednesday between 3pm-5pm carers and interested professionals are welcome to drop by and visit the carers’ resource centre. Members of staff will be pleased to see you and provide any assistance (plus tea and biscuits!) you may need.
Free art workshops for carersCarers from Southwark and Lambeth have been invited to take part in a series of free art workshops by two local galleries.
Every fortnight, starting in August, carers will have the opportunity to have some fun, meet new friends and develop their creative skills in artist-led workshops.
Workshops are held on Saturday afternoons or Friday mornings (for carers over 55 only).
For more details please call Sarah on 020 7708 4101.
Do you work or are busy during the day?
We have a new group for you!
Southwark Carers Evening GroupA timetable for the group is being developed and we hope to include some guest speakers, massage therapists, and other activities. It is a great chance to meet new friends and find out a bit more about the services and support that are available to you.
Fortnightly meetings (Thursdays):
13th July, 27th July, 10th August, 24th August
5.30pm - 7.30pm (call in when you can)Meeting in the Rainbow Room, Cambridge House, 131 Camberwell Road, SE5 0HF.
We look forward to seeing you!
Carers Voices launch event
Thursday 7th September
10am - 3pm (lunch provided)Inspire, St Peters Church
Liverpool Grove (off Walworth Road), SE17 2HHAre you a carer? Are you interested in the wider issues that carers face? Could you speak on behalf of all carers in the borough? Come along and find out more about Carers Voices and how YOU can get involved in this exciting new project.
Please contact us for more details.
Quick
Links
Come to our next Carers Forum - book your place now!
Have you had a Carer's Assessment? If not, you could be missing out on extra support.
Need to speak to someone? Call us on 020 7708 4497, Monday-Friday 9.30am-5.30pm.
Southwark Carers is incorporated as a non-profit making company limited by guarantee number 4146495. Charity number 1085300.