main content Support and information for carers

A carer is someone who regularly care, without payment, for a relative, partner or friend, who due to illness, disability, vulnerability or frailty cannot manage at home without help. Carers can come from all walks of life, can be of any age and can be of any racial origin. 

Bromley council recognises and appreciates that carers are vital, and the value of their support incalculable , for the well being of the person they are caring for.

Who are Carers

London Borough of Bromley residents who provide regular care for a relative, partner or friend of any age who due to illness,  physical or mental disability, or vulnerability cannot manage at home without help.

If you look after a relative, friend or disabled child who needs support to live at home then….YOU ARE A CARER!

For more general information about receiving support from social services please select these links for the eligibility criteria for adults and Social Services Support for Children and Families

Details

If you are a carer, Bromley Council's Adults and Community Services Department and Children and Young People Department can support you in the following ways:

• Arrange a Community Care Assessment for the person you look after to see if services can be provided to support or replace the care you normally give.
• Take account of your needs by giving you your own Carer’s Assessment and Support Plan, even if the person you care for has refused to have an assessment.
• A copy of the Carer’s Assessment leaflet can be downloaded from the Department of Health's website 
• You should also be able to contribute to the discussion on the needs of the person you care for within their Community Care Assessment/ Review.
• If you care for a disabled child your needs will be considered as part of an assessment of the needs of your child and family.
• Young Carers under the age of 16 should have their caring needs addressed under the Children’s Act 1989. Young Carers over the age of 16 may be assessed under the Carers & Disabled Children’s Act 2000.
• Offer advice and information on relevant local resources and organisations

To work out what services would be helpful in your situation, we will need to discuss:

• the help the person you care for needs.
• the help you are giving at the moment
• the services that Bromley Social Services & Housing Department may provide, fund or refer you on to.

What kind of services are available to carers in Bromley?

A wide range of statutory and non-statutory services can affect the lives of carers in Bromley.

These services may be provided directly to you, the carer, or indirectly by benefiting the person you are looking after (which may also give you valuable support). If the person being cared for receives the right services, at the right time, then you should benefit too. So it is all the more important that you make your views and needs clear.

Dedicated services to carers are also offered. These include:

• Short break services
• Support workers
• Support groups
• Specialist advice and information
• Advocacy
• Freephone helpline
• Counselling
• Welfare benefits advice
• Back care advice
• Raising awareness for and on behalf of carers
• Carer Break Vouchers.

Further information about services is contained in the Bromley Carers Directory (March 2006) available from Carers Bromley. 

Costs

There is no cost for assessment, advice or information from social services or Carers Bromley. However, there may be a cost for some of the services that are available, which will be fully discussed before support is arranged. 

Next steps

Contact Bromley Social Services for an assessment, advice or information (see "Contact Details" section below).

It is important to mention that you are a carer and would like your needs assessed through a Carer’s Assessment, as well as a Community Care Assessment or Review for the needs of the person you are caring for.

If the person you care for is in a local hospital then the social services team based there can also be asked to do a Carer’s Assessment before discharge. Your needs and views should be sought as part of any discharge plan.

Contact Details

For people who are older,or  have learning disabilities or physical disabilities

If this is your first contact with Social Services OR you  already receive  services and your circumstances change OR there is an emergency then your first point of contact will be through the front-line contact service (Bromley Social Services Direct) on 020 8461 7777. Assistance is available on this number from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday - Friday.

For those in hospital requiring social services support now or when returning from home:

Adults and Community Services
Princess Royal University Hospital
Farnborough Common
Orpington
BR6 8ND
Telephone: 01689 86493/4/5/6
Monday to Friday 8.45am-5.00pm

Extended hours at the weekend at the Accident & Emergency & Medical assessment unit (MAU): Monday –Friday 5.30pm-9.30pm; Saturday and Sunday 10.00am-5.00pm.


Kent Association for the Blind, 18 Blyth Road, Bromley, Kent, BR1 3RX.
Telephone: 020 8464 8406 / 8432 



For people aged under 65 with mental health problems:

Please select this link to contact details for the Community Mental Health Teams.

For children and families:

West of the borough- contact Penge Social Services Area Office
East of the borough- contact Orpington Social Services Area Office.

For children with disability:

Childrens’ Disability Social Work Team
Bromley Civic Centre , Stockwell Close, Bromley, Kent . BR1 3UH
Telephone: 020 8313 4109

Please select this link for you local Social Services Area Office.