Carers Page
Welcome to the Portesham Surgery Carers Page!
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself, my name is Jackie Hicken and I am the Carers Lead for Portesham Surgery.
For your information, I have provided links that will take you to our Carers Information pack, and various support resources.
We do actively encourage all carers to contact Carers Support Dorset on either www.carersupportdorset.co.uk or 0800 368 8349, as a first point of contact.
Carer Support Dorset have a dedicated team who can discuss your caring role and the effect it has on you. They can then signpost and refer to a whole range of services that can offer you support. Carer Support Dorset can also refer onto Dorset Council for a Carer Act Carers Assessment if this will be beneficial to you.
So that we can ensure you are identified as a carer within the surgery, I would be grateful if you could complete the short questionnaire below, providing details of the person you care for, and also any assistance or signposting that you may need.
Please note that the information you provide will help me assist you as much as possible now and in the future, and I would therefore be grateful if you could print, complete and return in due course.
I have also attached links to our community services and activities leaflets, put together by the surgery and our patient participation group, Friends of Portesham
Links to our Carers Welcome Pack
As a carer you are entitled to a free flu vaccination, please look out for when our Flu Clinics are advertised around October of each year.
RESOURCE LINKS AND WEBSITES
Covid Support for Carers
National Shielding Service System (NSSS)
The government has a service of support for those with a medical condition which means they are classed as being clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus. The service can offer:
- access to priority supermarket deliveries
- info on local support that’s available
People can register themselves, or on behalf of someone else via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-shielding-support
All unpaid carers offered weekly lateral flow testing
Public Health Dorset, on behalf of BCP and Dorset councils, has set up a rapid asymptomatic testing service, using lateral flow devices, for people living and working in Dorset who cannot work from home due to the nature of their role. One in three people who have Covid-19 show no symptoms and can therefore spread it without knowing. The aim is to identify cases quickly and to break the chains of transmission.
All unpaid carers are able to access weekly lateral flow testing at one of a number of test sites that have been set up around the county. It is important that carers can commit to attending a test site once per week, for six weeks. You will find that test sites are less busy during the day time.
Testing is available 0800-1900 hours, 7 days per week. Please note that availability differs between sites and booking is essential.
The online booking site can be accessed at:
www.publichealthdorset.org.uk/your-health/protecting-your-health/book-an-lfd-test.aspx
The booking system is only for businesses and organisations that are part of the Dorset Rapid Testing Programme and unpaid carers.
Frequently asked questions about this service can be found at:
If you have any further queries, please contact communitytesting@dorsetccg.nhs.uk
Other Carer Resources
Herbert Protocol Flyer For families caring for those with dementia
Dorset Carers Hub - Local Carers Support Group
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service - Advice for Carers https://www.dwfire.org.uk/safety/advice-for-carers/
Help and Care – the organisation for carers in Dorset. They are currently running free, informal information workshops for carers. Contact them on 0300 111 3303, email carerstraining@helpandcare.org.uk, or look on their website at www.helpandcare.org.uk.
NHS Continuing Healthcare – you may be entitled to funding to pay for health care provided in any setting (at home, hospice or a care home) over an extended period of time to meet physical or mental health needs that have arisen as a result of disability, accident or illness. (It is only provided where an individual requires long term healthcare and NOT for social or residential care.)
Carers Direct is the NHS website gives information on financial help, how to get a break from caring, going to work etc. Call them on 0808 802 0202 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday or 11am to 4pm at weekends.
WHATS ON AND WHERE TO GO!..
DORSET WIDE CARERS FESTIVAL AND
CARERS RIGHTS DAY
25TH NOVEMBER 2021
The Dorset Wide Carers Festival and Carers Rights Day is on 25th November 2021.
The Dorset wide (BCP and Dorset Council) Carers Festival will be taking place on the 25th of November 2021. This all-new full day Dorset event is part of Carers Rights Day, with the theme being ‘Caring for your future’ and aims to celebrate, thank and support unpaid carers in Dorset. It will bring carers together with organisations across Dorset to help them find out how to get the help and support they are entitled to. It is also an opportunity for professionals to learn about what is on offer unpaid carers from the local authority, voluntary and community organisations.
The free event will be held predominately virtually via Microsoft Teams throughout the day and will feature a series of bite-size sessions aimed at both unpaid carers and professionals who work with and support unpaid carers. The Dorset Museum are hosting in partnership with Dorset Council a live Dorchester based event. We hope to be able to link with other face-to-face events in different parts of the county at libraries and Tricuro sites.
They will have guest speaker Vice President of Carers UK, Dame Philippa Russell, who has been caring for her disabled son, Simon, for over half a century. Dame Philippa also is the former Chair of the Prime Minister’s Standing Commission on Carers. Dame Philippa Russell session will include a Q&A session so please forward your questions to amanda.dunning@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk in advance.
Other sessions will feature topics such as:
- Ideas to get a break from caring
- Technology enabled care with Tec lounge video and Tech enabled care
- Mindfulness sessions (how to look after your mental health)
- Understanding carers rights and how to support them,
- The benefits of registering with your GP as a carer
- Meet Carer Support Dorset and Rethink Dorset Carers Service
- Welfare benefits advice
- PamaLife interview
- Stepping into Nature, Picnic in the Parks and Walk Dorset’s History
- Laughter Yoga session
- Shared Lives information
- How to make sure your home is safe (Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service), community support and keeping healthy.
And much more!
The sessions can be watched live online, or some will be available to download afterwards.
for more information follow this link https://adultsocialcare.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/carers-help-and-support/carers-festival-25th-november-2021
Carers Dorset Festival Poster can be found HERE