A carer is someone who spends a significant proportion of their life providing unpaid support to a relative, partner, friend or neighbour. The person they are caring for could be ill, frail, disabled or has a mental health or substance misuse problem.

If you provide support to someone who lives in Central Bedfordshire, that makes you a carer.

These pages will provide you with information about

If you are a child or young person caring for an adult then please visit the Children's Services information for Young Carers

If you are a someone with parental responsibility for a child with a disability aged under 18 then please visit Children with Disabilities Service information

For information about support for the person you look after, please visit the Health and Social Care pages

If you have concerns about the safety of the person you care for, please visit the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults pages

Advice and information is available to all Central Bedfordshire carers about

You can call the Central Bedfordshire Carers Helpline on 0300 300 8306 or email carers@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk for advice and information and to request an assessment of your needs as a carer. Our office hours are Monday to Friday 8.45 am - 5.20 pm. Outside of office hours, calls go through to our Emergency Duty Team

If you would like information about the condition and needs of the person you care for then please contact one of our Social Care Teams.

Information about local organisations, your rights, benefits and allowances, support for you in your caring role and help to take a break can be found in the Carers Pack (PDF 2.4MB)

Following a carers assessment you will receive advice, information and be put in touch with a local carers organisation.

You may also be able to receive a Carers Voucher or Carers Direct Payment to:

•  Help you in your caring
•  Help you to take a break from your caring role

If you or not eligible for these services after your carers assessment you can still apply for an NHS Choice Break by calling Carers in Bedfordshire on 0300 111 1919.

Find out more about these services in the carers pack (PDF 2.4MB).

The Carers Pack (PDF 2.4MB) contains information about benefits and allowances from the government which you or the person you care for may be entitled to.

Your local Citizens Advice Bureau can help you with completing forms.

•  Ampthill - Woburn Street, Ampthill, MK45 2HX. Telephone 08444 77 1600

•  Biggleswade - Century House, Market Square, Biggleswade, SG18 8UU. Telephone 08444 77 1600

•  Dunstable - Grove House, 76 High Street North, Dunstable, LU6 1NF. Telephone 01582 661384

•  Leighton Linslade - Bossard House, West Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1DA. Telephone 01525 373878

•  Parkside Neighbourhood Centre - Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, LU5 5QN

•  Sandy - Sandy Health Centre, Northcroft, Sandy, SG19 1JQ

•  Shefford - Orchard Children’s Centre, School Lane, Shefford, SG17 5XA

•  Tithe Farm Neighbourhood Centre - Tithe Farm Road, Houghton Regis, LU5 5JB. Telephone 01582 867692

You may be worried about what will happen to the person you care for if you are involved in an accident or crisis that prevents you continuing in your caring role.

The Central Bedfordshire Carers Emergency Card enables you to record what you would like to happen in case of an emergency.

The small card can easily be stored in your purse/wallet, bag and in the Lifeline tub in your fridge. When people find the card they will know who to contact.

You may also want to put the Carers Helpline number, 0300 300 8036, in your mobile phone under ICE (In Case of Emergency) as the emergency services will look for this when attending incidents.

The Central Bedfordshire Carers Forum is the place to make your views heard and play a vital role in improving health & social care outcomes for carers.

Join in my email calling 0300 300 8036 or email carers@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

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