Carers
Who is a carer?
If you are looking after someone who is disabled, ill or an older person, then you are a carer. A carer is someone of any age who provides care to someone who:
- has a physical disability
- has a sensory impairment
- has a learning disabilties
- has mental health support needs
- has problems with drug or alcohol misuse
- has a long term or chronic illness
- is an older person who is physically or mentally frail
- has any combination of the above.
‘Care’ is defined in a wide-ranging way and includes emotional and administrative support as well as physical care and domestic tasks. The person who you care for must live within the London Borough of Barnet. You are not considered to be carer if you are a:
- worker from statutory, voluntary or private service providers who is paid to provide personal assistance or support
- volunteer from statutory, voluntary or private service providers who provides personal assistance or support.
If you provide or intend to provide ‘regular and substantial’ care, you have a right to receive an assessment of needs in your own right. This carers assessment may lead to social care services being provided, to help you in your caring role.
‘Regular’ is likely to mean most days per week, most weeks, and ‘substantial’ is likely to mean an average of 20 or more hours per week spent providing care or supervision.
Support for carers
Support organisations for carers
New deal for carers consultation
This 'New Deal for Carers' is a commitment in Department of Health 2006 White Paper ‘Our Health, Our Care,Our Say’. It includes a revision of the Prime Minister’s 1999 Carers Strategy, setting up a help/advice line, provision of cover in emergencies and an expert carers programme.
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