Do you look after someone? A carer is anyone who provides unpaid help or support to a family member, friend or neighbour who could not manage without that help.
You may be supporting someone because of a long-term health condition, disability, dementia, frailty, mental health problem, learning disability, problems with drugs or alcohol, or serious illness.
You do not have to live with the person you care for, and you do not have to receive Carer’s Allowance to be considered a carer.
Many people do not think of themselves as a carer – they simply see themselves as a husband, wife, partner, parent, child, relative or friend helping someone they care about.
Please tell us if you are a carer
If you are a patient at Nethergreen Surgery and regularly look after someone, please let us know so that we can record this on your medical record and add you to our Carers Register.
Knowing that you are a carer helps us to understand your circumstances and take your caring responsibilities into account when you use our services. We can also help direct you towards appropriate advice and support.
Tell us that you are a carer using our online form
Alternatively, please let a member of our reception team know.
Being recorded as a carer does not automatically give us permission to discuss another person’s medical information with you. If you help someone manage their healthcare, please see the information about family and carer access below.
Looking after your own health
Caring for someone can be rewarding, but it can also be physically and emotionally demanding. It is important that you look after your own health too.
Please contact us if your caring responsibilities are affecting your physical or mental health, or if you are finding things difficult.
Carers may also be eligible for a free NHS flu vaccination. You can check the latest eligibility on the NHS flu vaccination website.
Helping you manage someone else’s healthcare
If you help the person you care for with prescriptions, appointments or other healthcare, it may be possible to arrange family and carer access, sometimes called proxy access.
Depending on the access agreed, this can allow a trusted person to order repeat prescriptions, manage appointments, contact the surgery on someone else’s behalf or view agreed parts of their GP record.
Where the person being cared for is able to make their own decisions, they will normally need to agree to this access.
You can find out more on the NHS family and carer access website, or contact the surgery to discuss this with us.
Support for carers in Sheffield
There is a wide range of free support available locally.
Sheffield Carers Service
Sheffield Carers Service is the main local service providing information, advice and support for unpaid adult carers in Sheffield. The service is part of Crossroads Care Charity.
Their team can provide advice and support with carers’ rights, benefits, carers’ assessments, taking a break from caring, health and wellbeing, support groups, emergency planning and accessing other local services.
Carer Advice Line: 0114 272 8362
You can also contact the service or request support through the Sheffield Carers Service website.
Local carer support groups
Sheffield Carers Service runs regular groups across the city where carers can meet others in similar circumstances.
Groups particularly local to Nethergreen include:
- Crosspool Carers Support Group (S10) – Stephen Hill Methodist Church
- Clifford House Carers Support Group (S11) – Ecclesall Road South
- Dore, Totley & Bradway Carers Support Group (S17) – Totley URC
Dates and arrangements may change, so please check the current Sheffield Carers Service support groups before attending.
Carer’s Assessment
If caring for someone is having an impact on your life, you have the right to ask for a Carer’s Assessment.
This is not an assessment of how well you are caring for somebody. It is an opportunity to talk about how caring affects you and what support might help.
For adult carers supporting an adult who lives in Sheffield, assessments can be arranged through Sheffield Carers Service.
Find out more about Carer’s Assessments in Sheffield
Depending on your circumstances, an assessment may identify practical support, financial advice, opportunities to take a break from caring or other services that may help.
Carer Card and emergency planning
Unpaid carers in Sheffield can apply for a Carer Card and Emergency Card.
The card can provide access to a range of discounts and allows carers to record emergency contacts who can be contacted if something happens and they are unexpectedly unable to provide care.
Sheffield Carers Service can also help carers make an emergency plan for the person they look after.
Find out about support for carers, Carer Cards and emergency planning
Financial help
You may be entitled to financial support as a carer.
This can include Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Credit, Universal Credit or Pension Credit, depending on your circumstances.
Eligibility varies and some benefits can affect other benefits received by you or the person you care for.
Sheffield Carers Service can provide advice, or you can find current information about Carer’s Allowance on GOV.UK.
Young carers
Children and young people can be carers too.
Sheffield Young Carers provides support for young carers and young adult carers aged 8 to 25 who live in Sheffield. Support includes individual help, groups and activities, as well as support with health, wellbeing, education and employment.
Sheffield Young Carers: 0114 258 4595
Young carers aged under 18 are also entitled to a Young Carer’s Needs Assessment. In Sheffield these assessments are undertaken by Sheffield City Council’s Young Carers Assessment Team.
Find out more about Young Carer Assessments
If you are a young carer, or are concerned that a child or young person may have significant caring responsibilities, you are also welcome to speak to us at the surgery.
Parent carers
Parents and carers of children or young people with additional needs can access information, peer support and local events through the Sheffield Parent Carer Forum.
Their support is available to parents of children and young people aged 0–25 with additional needs, and a formal diagnosis is not required for their peer support service.
Age UK Sheffield
Age UK Sheffield provides free information and advice for people aged over 50, their families and carers.
They can advise on benefits and maximising income, paying for care, help at home, housing, health and disability and maintaining independence.
Telephone: 0114 250 2850
Find out more about Age UK Sheffield’s Information and Advice Service
Sheffield Directory
The Sheffield Directory – Carers brings together information about local services, community organisations, support groups and activities.
It is a useful place to look for carers’ support, help at home, dementia services, disability support, community activities, respite services and other practical help available across Sheffield.
Adult Social Care
If the person you care for is finding it increasingly difficult to manage safely or independently, they may be entitled to an assessment of their own care and support needs.
Sheffield City Council Adult Social Care can provide information and advice and, where appropriate, arrange a Care Act assessment.
This may lead to support such as help at home, equipment, adaptations, technology-enabled care or other community and social care services.
Carers UK
Carers UK provides independent national information and advice for carers.
Their website includes guidance on benefits and finances, carers’ rights, employment, taking a break, health and wellbeing, arranging care and planning for the future.
If caring is becoming difficult
Please do not feel that you have to manage everything alone.
If your caring responsibilities are affecting your own health or wellbeing, please contact Nethergreen Surgery. We can discuss your own health needs and help direct you towards appropriate support.
If the person you care for needs more help to remain safe or independent, you can also contact Sheffield City Council Adult Social Care for advice and information about an assessment.