Parent Carers


Help is here

You are not alone, here you can find out what help is out there when you need it.

Are you a Carer? A Carer is someone of any age who looks after a family member, partner, friend or neighbour who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without the Carer’s support. The care they give is unpaid (but they may receive Carers Allowance) or informal.

A parent Carer cares for a child with additional needs; please note that a parent Carer may or may not have parental responsibility.

Let your GP practice know that you are a Carer and ask if this could be registered on your medical record. Make sure you take advantage of the free flu jab and NHS health checks if you are eligible for one and if not discuss any health concerns with your GP practice.

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Coronavirus advice

Get the latest NHS information and advice about coronavirus (COVID 19).


Supporting you as a Carer

Contents

Advice and information

The Carers’ Support Service provides a range of advice, information and signposting as well as practical and emotional support to Adult and Parent Carers.

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Carers health and wellbeing support

The Carers’ Support Service provides a range of advice, information and signposting as well as practical and emotional support to all Carers including parent Carers. Services available to parent Carers include:

  • Information
  • Emotional support
  • Benefits advice
  • Carer groups
  • Training
  • Lifelong learning
  • Counselling
  • Befriending
  • Advocacy
  • Support for Carers of those who misuse substances
  • Carers emergency alert card
  • Holistic therapies

The Carers’ Support Service can also connect Carers with other sources of information, advice and support, to help ensure they get the right support at the right time, including accessing a Carer’s Needs Assessment.

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Specialist advice – financial/benefits

The below organisations help Carers to maximise their benefits, give advice about debt issues and provide financial advocacy/representation:

  • North East Lincolnshire Carers’ Support Service (specialist advice and information on benefit checks and financial advice) – 01472 242277
  • Citizens Advice Bureau – 01472 252500
  • Centre4 – 01472 236675
  • Jobcentre Plus – 0800 169 0190
  • Pensions Service – 0800 731 7898

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Combining caring with work

Many Carers combine work and caring and a number of Carers find they have to give up work, reduce their hours or move into lower level, more flexible positions in order to care. This is also the case for parent Carers. Working Carers have rights – statutory rights (available to everyone) and contractual rights (specific to your contract within your organisation). You can find out helpful information on the Carers UK website .

Carers combining work and caring may also find it useful to talk to their line manager/immediate supervisor and/or HR representative to identify themselves as a Carer. Carers should also check their contract of employment, staff handbook, HR policies or letter of appointment, to see if there are any contractual rights on top of the set statutory ones.

North East Lincolnshire additionally offers an online resource for working Carers called Employers for Carers –this provides training modules for managers, identifies Carer rights and suggests potential flexible options to support Carers to remain in work – Efc Digital (membership code #EFC2217 – you will need to register).

The Jobcentre Plus can support Carers in finding work (0800 169 0190). In addition, there are some job sites that post Carer friendly organisations or job roles and a number of organisations that have “signed up” to being Carer friendly places to work.

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Housing

Carers may experience difficulty with housing due to the needs of the person they care for. Or your circumstances may mean you are no longer able to afford the home you are currently living in. The NEL Carers’ Support Service can support you through difficult situations via their advocacy service. You may also benefit from a Specialist Advice appointment to talk through your situation and discuss your options.

For housing advice contact Home choice lincs .

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Carers assessment

Information coming soon about parent Carers’ assessment of your needs.

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Be scam aware

  • North East Lincolnshire Council COVID-19 fraud and scams information for local residents

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Speak to other carers online

There are many people who, like you, care for others sharing their stories and offering support online. You don’t have to join in conversations, but it might help to see what other people are sharing.

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Being involved

  • The Carers’ Forum comprises a group of existing and former Carers, representing Carers’ interests; this group acts as an independent voice for Carers across North East Lincolnshire and has a key role in the planning and development of local services and the promotion of Carers’ issues, rights and involvement
  • The Parents Participation Forum is a forum providing a voice for parents and Carers of those aged 0-25 in North East Lincolnshire. It offers general and legal advice options and promotes the voice of its Carers in service provision
  • North East Lincolnshire Carers’ Partnership group is the local lead strategic group focusing on Carers’ issues. The group is made up of statutory organisations, local providers, voluntary organisations and Carers’ Forum representatives
  • Healthwatch North East Lincolnshire independent consumer champion for health and social care created to gather and represent the views of the public
  • Accord is a community membership body for North East Lincolnshire that lets all members have a say in how NHS and adult social care money is spent. You can get involved as much or as little as you like

Health and wellbeing


Work, money, legal and benefits


Your views are important to us … if you have any queries, complaints, or compliments around the carers services or pathways in North East Lincolnshire please let us know by contacting The Carers’ Support Service or Healthwatch North East Lincolnshire .


Related documents

North East Lincolnshire Carers’ Guide (PDF, 2MB)


Useful websites

Page last updated: 15 Nov 2023