Carers play a vital role in providing care to ill, frail or disabled family members, friends or partners. The care they provide is unpaid. If you are a carer, you are not alone – every day 6,000 people take on a caring responsibility.
Carer Hub
The Northern Trust Carer Hub is a central contact where you can be signposted to local support or receive other information. The Hub is available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 02827661210 or email carers.coordinator@northerntrust.hscni.net
Watch our video below to find out more.
Carers Digital
For further specific online support relating to the caring role, carers should visit the Northern Trust carer website www.carersdigital.org, create an account to log-in using the FREE access code DGTL2770. This is a designated website for carers where you can download resources, guides and the ‘Jointly’ app for free using the access code. There is also e-learning, nutritional advice and other sources of information.
Looking After Someone
Jointly App Access To Online Resources
Carers Mailing List
Family carers can be kept up to date by signing up to the Northern Trust Carer Mailing List. Simply complete and return our Carer Connect form and email it to: carers.coordinator@northerntrust.hscni.net
Named Worker
Clients known to services will have a named worker, this may be a social worker, community support worker, specialist nurse or Occupational Therapist. Any concerns regarding the cared for person, the first point of contact should be their named worker. The named worker will know the family situation best and is therefore best placed to assess any changes or developments.
Who is a Carer?
Have a think about the person you provide care for or that you support.
Do you assist them with getting dressed or bathing, cooking or cleaning, making sure they are taking medication properly, getting them out and about or taking them to or making medical appointments?
A carer is defined as “an individual who provides regular and substantial care on an informal basis”. A carer can be any age, including children and young people. You do not have to be the sole carer, a close relative or live with the cared for person. You do not have to be in receipt of Carers Allowance or benefits to be a carer.
Identifying as carer can be hard until you realise how much care and support you are providing to someone else.
Carers’ Co-ordinator
The Trust’s Carers’ Co-ordinator can help carers by:
- Providing information advice and resources for carers
- To provide information and to support carers in the Northern Trust area
- To promote training to enpower and support carers
- To gather information about the needs of carers
Carers Support Programme
The Carer Support Programme for September to November 2020 will be online. To book a place on any of the online classes you should contact the Carer Hub on 028 2766 1210 or email carer.hub@northerntrust.hscni.net
Related links
NHSCT Carers Newsletter May 2020
Carers Support Programme September – November 2020