Everyone needs time off from the physical and mental demands of caring. If you are a carer, from time to time, it helps for both you and the person you care for to have a break. A break can be for an hour, a day, a week or more.

There are many different ways of organising a break to help with the day-to-day tasks of caring. The crucial thing is to know that the person you care for is safe.

For some carers' breaks, you need to have an assessment first with Social Services. For others, you can refer yourself to the organisations direct.

Waltham Forest Social Services can offer the following carers services:

  • Respite care – residential, nursing and dementia
  • Home based respite
  • Take a break
  • Respite grant
  • Direct payments for carers

You will need to have an assessment which shows you have a high or very high priority need for the carers service. There is a charge for residential and nursing respite breaks arranged by Social Services.

What types of breaks are available?

Services in and around the home
Services in the home provide a variety of support, including sitting and talking with the person you care for. There are other services which can help the person you care for with social activities of their choice such as going to the cinema, pub or shopping.

Residential Respite care
Short term care provided directly to the cared for person in a residential or nursing home for up to three weeks per year to enable the carer to have a break from caring role.

OR

Home Based Respite
Short term support and care provided to the cared for people in their own homes, while the carer is away.  This is provided for up to three weeks a year and up to a maximum of £500 per week.

Short Breaks

If you want to go on holiday, either alone or with the person you care for there are a number of things to consider.

Respite Grant
Financial assistance to carers planning to go on holiday with the cared for person.  Carers can access up to £225 for themselves and up to a further £225 for the cared for if they are travelling with them.

The grant will be payable once in two years subject to available funding.

Take a Break
Home based respite for up to four hours per week, which can be carried over for up to 16 hours per month. The minimum allocation for respite is two hours per session.

Direct Payments for Carers
Direct Payments A payment made to the carers to fund their own respite service. Carers will continue to access money in lieu of services to fund Take a Break and Home Based Respite.

Carers Grant/One-off Direct Payment
One-off Direct Payment to support carers who are not receiving any other carer’s services.  The grant will enable carers to meet their own needs as individuals.  The grant of up to £750 a year can be used to purchase equipment, travel, driving lessons, help with housework, membership fee for leisure centres, home improvement work, study courses but cannot be used to pay for holidays.  The carer will be required to provide documentary evidence of spend.

Emergency Carers Support
Emergency support to be commissioned for up to 72 hours to support carers in an emergency until a replacement of care can be arranged.

Practitioners will be able to arrange emergency support with independent Home Care Providers and seek approval afterwards.

Who to contact

Social Services

Call Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000, or visit your local Social Services office

Crossroads
Crossroads has a scheme which offers help to carers who look after adults and older people. Carers are offered up to four hours' break each week, at times that best suit the carer.

Waltham Forest Crossroads - Caring for Carers Ltd
590 Forest Road, Walthamstow  E17 3UD
Tel 020 8558 6823
Fax 020 8539 6975
Web www.crossroads.org.uk/leavalley

Holidays
Holiday Care provides holiday information for disabled people and their carers.

Tel 0845 124 9971
Fax 0845 124 9972
Minicom 0845 124 9976
Web www.holidaycare.org.uk

For more information

For further information on the above services please contact:

Carers Commissioning
Tel. 020 8496 3663