Support and Information for Carers

Carers play a vital part of Neath Port Talbot’s communities we recognise that Carers provide the majority of community care. We may be able to make it easier for you to care for someone at home by providing you with information of support within the community or practical help to you to support the person you care for.  

What we know from speaking with carers across Wales is that you are the experts, we need to value and listen to you. We need to be proactive in the support we provide and understand for each carer what matters to you. We know you experience feelings of loneliness, frustration and isolation, and how this can affect your emotional well-being.  

When you call us you can expect to be given time to talk about what matters most to you, we will ask you about what currently works well for you, what doesn’t work so well for you and talk through the next steps. It may be you only need some advice over the phone or email or it may be that you would like somebody to visit your home to discuss your caring role in person or via a video call with one of our team. We are happy to facilitate whatever method of communication works best for you.   

It’s important to know you can still call us if the person you cared for has passed away but you still want to talk to someone, we know that losing somebody you cared for is an extremely difficult experience and we want to make sure you know we are here to talk. Our carers service can put you in contact with support groups.  

The person you care for or you as the carer do not need to be claiming any specific benefits to speak with us and neither does speaking with us impact on what benefits you can claim.  

You also need to know that there is no one type of carer, the amount of hours you care for could be 5 minutes a day to 24 hours a day, you could be the carer for a child, parent or another adult. Please don’t read this page and rule yourself out of contacting us, we place no limits on what a carer is and would prefer to speak with you rather than you being anxious or stressed about getting help.  

SPOC
01639 686802 01639 686802 voice +441639686802

A carer as “anyone of any age, who provides unpaid care and support to a relative, friend or neighbour who is disabled, physically or mentally ill, or affected by substance misuse.”

Caring can impact on all parts of a carer’s life, and often carers ignore their own needs. It can be very rewarding but it can also be demanding, tiring and stressful.

Caring can impact on:

· The ability to access and stay in employment

· Financial resources

· The health and emotional well-being of the family unit

· The ability to access social and recreational activities

· Wider relationships with family and friends

For young carers it can also impact on their:

· Experiences of childhood

· Health and well-being

· Education and career opportunities

· Family and peer relationships

· Sense of identity

We also recognise that being a carer can impact on life after caring:

·  Adjusting to changing relationships when caring at home is no longer viable

·  Social isolation and lack of confidence after a bereavement

·  Redefining their identity and purpose

·  Having a higher risk of needing care services themselves

You may have already talked about your caring role if the person you care for has had an assessment; but you have the right to choose to have your own Care and Support Assessment.

The purpose of a Care Assessment is to provide you with the opportunity to talk about how caring impacts on you and discuss ways in which, what is important for you can be achieved.

You can ask for a carers assessment by contacting Adult’s and Children’s Single Point of Contact Team (SPOC)

SPOC
01639 686802 01639 686802 voice +441639686802

“It’s important to discuss your own needs and what is important to you”

To help you feel at ease, you can have a family member or friend present if you choose. The assessment will be confidential, the person you care for doesn’t have to know you’ve had a Carers Assessment (you can choose to tell them) or be with you when you have your Carers Assessment.

What you discuss during the assessment is your decision, what is important is that we discuss what is important for you and how you can be supported to achieve this.

If you are a Young Carer looking for an assessment you will need consent from your parent/guardian to participate in the assessment. You can find more information in relation to Young Carers Service in the section below or by contacting

Joel Davies
01639 763030 01639 763030 voice +441639763030

If you are a Young Carer the assessment will be carried out by a member of staff from Neath Port Talbot’s Young Carers Service.

All other carer’s assessment will be carried out with you by a member of staff from Neath Port Talbot Carers Service on behalf of the Local Authority.

Neath Port Talbot Carers
01639 642277 01639 642277 voice +441639642277

Following the carers assessment we may be able to make it easier for you to care for someone at home by providing information, assistance or advice and/or practical help to support the person you care for following an assessment.

This might be by looking at what options and choices are open to you following an assessment.

  • Adaptations to the home - such as handrails or ramps Supported employment opportunities for the person you care for
  • Direct Payments (for people to arrange their own care)
  • Assisted technology- which uses sensors and detectors in the home to raise an alert if, for example they detect a possible problem such as a fall, flooding, smoke or the gas being left on.

We can help you to:

  • think about and talk through your caring responsibilities
  • get help from other services - health and housing for example
  • get in touch with other groups and organisations who understand about caring
  • get information and advice, for example on benefits, income and your rights
  • one to one youth work support that is bespoke to the individual young carer and best meets their needs;
  • opportunities for young carers to take a break from their caring responsibilities, spend time with other young carers, learn and have fun;
  • support for important transition periods, including the transition from young carers service to adult carers service.
  • advocacy within schools, colleges and other relevant organisations so that professionals can better support the children and young people they work with;
  • information, advice and assistance to the whole family to identify the services and support they need

After the assessment, we can also consider:

  • help to arrange a community alarm
  • arranging activities for the person you care for
  • registering you for the Carers Emergency Card Scheme
  • arranging other services that give you a break - respite, day/night sitting or befriending

The Neath Port Talbot Young Carers Service offers a range of support to children and young people up to the age of 25, who have a caring role at home. You have the choice to choose which provision you access as the Carers Services provides provision for carers over the age of 18.

The project provides a tailored package of support that can include one to one youth work support, group work, information and advice, help to access other services, plus recreational opportunities that are just about having fun.

The Young Carers Service offers:-

  • one to one youth work support that is bespoke to the individual young carer and best meets their needs;
  • opportunities for young carers to take a break from their caring responsibilities, spend time with other young carers, learn and have fun;
  • support for important transition periods, including the transition from young carers service to adult carers service.
  • advocacy within schools, colleges and other relevant organisations so that professionals can better support the children and young people they work with;
  • information, advice and assistance to the whole family to identify the services and support they need.

For further information about how to access the Young Cares Service, contact NPT Youth Service Families First team.

Joel Davies
01639 763030 01639 763030 voice +441639763030

There is no charge for the assessment or for any information or advice. There are charges for some of the services that are provided. These usually depend on the individual’s income and any savings they have.

The care manager (Social worker) will make sure that the person has the information they need about any charges, before they agree to a Care Plan.

There is no charge for services provided directly through the Young Carers Service for Young Carers.

What am I entitled to?

As a carer you may be entitled to Carers Allowance and a reduction in council tax.

Carers Allowance

If you spend 35 hours or more per week caring for another person you may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance. This is a weekly payment of £61.35. This is a taxable payment and may affect other benefits you claim.

Reduction to Council Tax bills

You may be entitled to a council tax reduction of 25-50% if one of the following apply:

Unpaid Carers

You may be entitled to a Council Tax reduction if you are an unpaid carer and you:

  • live in the same property as the person you are caring for
  • provide at least 35 hours a week of care ( you don’t have to be in receipt of Carer’s Allowance)
  • provide care to someone who isn’t your spouse, partner or child under 18 years old

In addition, the person you care for must receive one of the following:

  • standard or enhanced rate of personal independence payment (PIP)
  • higher rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance
  • higher rate of Attendance Allowance
  • an increased Disablement Pension
  • an increased Constant Attendance Allowance

How to apply?

If you are eligible, you will need to request and complete a Council Tax Discount Application form and supply proof of eligibility (from the list above).

  • For more information, please contact (01639) 686 188 and press option 2
  • Or e-mail: council.tax@npt.gov.uk
  • Alternatively call in at the Civic Centre in Neath or Port Talbot.

If you leave your own property to care for someone

If you move to live with the person you are caring for you may be exempt from paying Council Tax. Contact the Council Tax Section to tell us:

  • the date you left your house and that it is unoccupied ( no else is living there)
  • that you are caring for someone
  • your new address and the name of the person you are caring for
  • the level and type of care you are providing
  • whether you intend to return

We need a doctors letter confirming the person you care for requires on going care.

More information

Information on benefits for carers at gov.uk.

Neath Port Talbot Carers’ Service provide information and advice on benefits. Contact: (01639) 642277 for more information.

 
  • SPOC - Neath Port Talbot’s Adult’s and Children’s Single Point of Contact Team (SPOC) are a multi-disciplinary service here to offer you information, advice and assistance. Please feel free to contact us and we will listen to your worries and help direct you to the best support available to you. To arrange support please contact:
    SPOC Team
    01639 686802 01639 686802 voice +441639686802
  • Neath Port Talbot Carers Service - Not everyone who does this thinks of themselves as a carer, but caring responsibilities make huge demands on their lives. Our aim is to help unpaid carers recognise their caring role and to provide carers aged 18+ in Neath Port Talbot with advice, information and support. To arrange support please contact:
    Neath Port Talbot Carers Service
    01639 642277 01639 642277 voice +441639642277
  • Young Carers - The Neath Port Talbot Young Carers Service offers a range of support to children and young people up to the age of 25, who have a caring role at home. The project provides a tailored package of support that can include one to one youth work support, group work, information and advice, help to access other services, plus recreational opportunities that are just about having fun. To arrange support please contact:
    Neath Port Talbot Young Carers Service
    01639 763030 01639 763030 voice +441639763030
  • Age Connect - Our aim is to provide local people aged fifty plus with the assistance, support and services that are needed to live a healthier, more active and independent life. To arrange support please contact:
    Age Connect
    01639 617333 01639 617333 voice +441639617333
  • Age Cymru West Glamorgan - We provide independent, quality assured, regional services to adults living in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend, to help them live and age well. To arrange support please contact:
    Age Cymru West Glamorgan
    01792 648 866 01792 648 866 voice +441792648866
  • Blue Badge - The Blue Badge is a concession which helps severely disabled persons with permanent and substantial mobility problems to park close to the place they need to visit.
  • Dewis Cymru - Dewis Cymru is an online directory which contains information on over 6,000 local and national organisations or services that can help people with their wellbeing.
  • Me, Myself and I - Provide emotional support, reassurance and opportunities for the person and or their family living with memory loss to socialise in a relaxed and friendly setting. At our base in Briton Ferry we can offer you a variety of different services to suit your needs. To arrange support please contact:
    Me, Myself and I
    01639 812528 01639 812528 voice +441639812528
  • NPTCVS - As Neath Port Talbot CVS exists to support, promote and develop the participation of voluntary organisations, community groups and individuals in the voluntary sector in Neath Port Talbot. Part of the Third Sector Support Wales structure, they offer support in volunteering, sustainable funding, good governance and engaging and influencing. Whether you are an individual looking for support yourself, a potential volunteer wanting to help or a group looking to set up to deliver services within the community, Neath Port Talbot CVS will be able to help. To arrange support please contact
    NPTCVS
    01639 631246 01639 631246 voice +441639631246
  • Welfare Rights - The Welfare Rights Unit is a specialist section which deals with all aspects of helping people to claim the benefits which they are entitled to. If you think you may be able to claim extra benefits but don’t know where to start, then we may be able to help. To arrange support please contact::
    Welfare Rights
    01639 685225 01639 685225 voice +441639685225