We have dedicated teams to support different types of carer
The right place for the right support at the right time…
Sunderland Carers Centre recognises that information, advice and guidance provided at the earliest possible stage can prevent more complex support needs developing.
As such, we developed a tiered approach to our services – Tier 1, 2 and 3 ensures carers, their families, professionals and the community receive a rapid and comprehensive response.
A tiered approach…
Tier 1
The first point of access is the Carers Contact Team, providing carers with:
- Information about Sunderland Carers Centre services
- Signposting to partner organisations
- A resource ‘centrepoint’ contact for all carers
- Triage function for support options and most appropriate team/team member
- Captures all contacts and records onto our CRM database
Tier 2
- The team co-ordinates referrals from professionals and outside agencies
- Provides guidance and support to carers referred from GPs, social workers, and health professionals
- Responds to requests for more in-depth and continued information, advice and guidance including crisis response, such as food parcels, benefit checks etc.
- Carries out follow-ups to carers and/or referrers providing information, advice and guidance to ensure quality assurance and meeting ongoing support needs
- Carer Centre Awareness facilitation at events and within other organisations
- Supporting carers and identifying any complex and/or crisis intervention needs and escalation to Tier 3 Carer Practitioners
Tier 3
Support options via a team of Carer and Family Support Link Workers, including Adult Carers, Young Carers, Parent Carers and Crisis Intervention:
- Advocacy and liaison support for carers within social care, health, safeguarding, education and other organisations
- Ongoing support, assisted signposting and community navigation to carers experiencing complex caring roles and crisis situations, including promotion of resilience and self-care models
- Facilitation of carer peer support groups and events
Carers Contact Team
The Carers Contact Team ensures that all of the support we can offer is tailored to meet your unique individual requirements.
This friendly, efficient service provides answers to questions as well as providing information, advice and support at that initial point of contact.
It is also a “triage” service, linking carers up with other members of Carers Centre staff and its teams to ensure the most comprehensive and appropriate information, advice and support that is provided.
Dementia support
Dementia is not only a devastating illness, it is complex and everyone’s experience of dealing with the condition and the challenges that it brings, is different.
Sunderland Carers Centre has a dedicated Dementia Advice Service, offering information and guidance to the loved ones of people living with the condition. The service ensures that those caring for a person with dementia can access information, advice and guidance about what to expect, other services that could help, and all other general questions.
The service includes a helpline connecting family and friends of people with dementia with advice and support. Advisors provide practical guidance or signpost to additional help.
Understanding Dementia
This course is vital for helping people prepare for the various stages of caring for someone with dementia.
Over five weeks, this programme provides peer support for carers with accompanying embedded learning. It provides insight and guidance through different parts of the dementia pathway, from the impact on memory, how the brain changes, ageing senses, general communication and beyond.
Adult Carer Team (Adults looking after adults)
If you look after an adult, ongoing support is available from our Adult Carer Team.
Working across the city, the support offered by the Team is designed to be super-accessible can be arranged to take place at locations most convenient to the carer. The Team works holistically to ensure carers and their families receive the best support possible.
0-25 Carer Team (Parent carers of children, young people aged 0-25 and young carers)
If you have a child or look after a young person aged 0-25 or you are a young carer aged between five and 25, then our 0-25 Team is here for you.
The Team provides a range of support to carers, young carers and their families, including providing information, advice and guidance, support at meetings as well as face-to-face support, not to mention some much-loved respite activities.
Through our ‘Whole Family Approach’, the 0-25 team works closely with the Adult Carer Team, wrapping support around the people who need it most.
Carers Assessment Team
We have a dedicated team that carries out statutory carers assessments on behalf of the local authority.
An assessment helps us and the local authority establish what support you quality for in your role as unpaid carer. The Carers Assessment Team will discuss with you how your responsibilities affect you and, through the assessment, create a tailored package of support to help you carry on providing care.