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of the ‘hidden nature’ of many caring relationships,
i.e. the person sees themselves as wife, son, parent or sister/brother
carrying out their expected duties rather than as a carer they
are often a very difficult group of people to contact. Research
has shown that the earlier contact can be made with a carer and
appropriate information provided the less likely a caring situation
will deteriorate to crisis point. Hartlepool carers uses a variety
of methods to ensure our services reach as many people in the
community as is possible.
- Advice & information
All carers are provided with information on a wide range of
topics or will be signposted to where this information can be
obtained. The use of internet and e-mail advice is now being
considered to tackle the problems of access in addition to our
minicom facility.
- Telephone Helpline
Hartlepool carers offer a helpline staffed five days a week
between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm
Tel.01429 283095.
- Home Visits
Are offered to carers who have difficulty attending the office
to talk.
- Resource Library
Cares, ex-cares and their families are welcome to come in at
any time to use the library and the internet the internet to
find the information needed to resolve their problem.
- Carers Newsletter
A quarterly newsletter is sent out to all carers and organisations
on our mailing list with information on carers issues and other
items of interest.
- Black &
Minority Ethnic Communities
Hartlepool Carers leaflets have been translated into Urdu, Gujurati
and Cantonese in order to contract some of the local ethnic
minority communities to offer assistance.
Social Activities
Carers and volunteers organise excellent
outings through the various drop-Ins.
Awareness Raising
There is an ongoing duty on all of our
staff to raise awareness of carers in the voluntary/statutory
sectors. Hartlepool carers is represented on all of the local
planning & Implementation Groups/Local Implementation Teams
and represents carers on the Hartlepool primary care patient and
public involvement forum. Every worker has a remit to facilitate
carer representation at these planning groups/consultation events.
Training and Accreditation
Training is provided to meet the identified
needs of the carers. Hartlepool Carers either provides this training
or links in to adult education, the social services training programme.
And other agencies to offer appropriate courses: including Handling
& Lifting Mental Health Awareness, Stress Relief and Advocacy.
The accredited courses that Hartlepool Carers run include. |
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Advocacy
In the ideal world all carers would
be able to advocate for themselves but many are worn down by their
duties and are unable to cope with the extra stresses of having
to fight for their and the cared for person’s rights. Training
in advocacy skills to NVQ level 2 to carers, volunteers and local
agencies is offered.
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Personal Development for Unpaid Carers
Training to NVQ level 2 to give carers
the confidence and support they need to achieve their personal
goals. It is the first qualification of its kind specifically
designed to help unpaid carers back into paid employment or on
to further training.
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Hartlepool Young Carers Positive Future Project
It is extremely difficult estimating
the number of young carers in Hartlepool. What is clear is that
with one of the poorest health records in the country, a high
incidence of people with disabilities and many single parent families
it is likely the number of young carers in Hartlepool is high.
They are often even harder than adult
carers because of the fear that the child will be taken away if
it is revealed there are problems at home. There is now a young
carers development worker co-ordinating the project the two part
time young carers support workers who run the one to one support
and group activities with the help of two sessional workers.
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Activities
The activities offered to young carers
are football, drama, swimming, residential weekends, ice-skating,
and painballing, basketball, arts & crafts. One to sessions
are offered to the young carers as and when needed. Through their
participation in planned and carefully structured activities the
young carers build their confidence and self-esteem, learn to
work as a team and have fun! The attic floor at 200 York Road
has been adapted to be used as activity and educational resource
rooms by the Young Carers.
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Counselling
A volunteer counselling service is offered
to carers/ex-carers who are affected by the stresses and strains
of their caring duties. They may be depresses or may be unable
to come to terms with the death of the person they had devoted
their life to caring for Tuesday evenings 5.15pm to 7.15pm.
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Welfare Benefits Advice
A benefits advice session is run at
the office by Hartlepool Action team for jobs every Thursday morning
between 10.00am – 12.00pm.
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