The Carers' Resource
Do you look after someone? A relative or a child, a
partner or a friend who needs your help because they are ill, frail
or have a disability? Then you are a carer.
The Carers' Resource is a service for carers who care for
somebody who lives within Rochdale Council boundaries. The aim of
the service is to support carers by the delivery of one stop advice
and information, emotional support and access to free training to
equip you with additional skills if you are planning to return to
the workplace.
Much of the work that carers do is vital but is unpaid and can
often go unrecognised. Now efforts to support these carers have
been recognised with Rochdale Borough Council acknowledged as
a ‘Beacon Council’ by the Government. Beacon status recognises the
good practice that has been developed locally. It means that
Rochdale’s Adult Care Service and its Child Care Service have been
recognised as providing centres of excellence in local government
from which other councils can learn.
Help and services for carers.
Service for carers at The Carers Resource
As a carer we can offer you:
- Access to specialist support and emotional support from other
carers and volunteers. This may include advice, information and
guidance on how to access services that will help you to continue
to provide care for your relative or friend.
- Access to free training and lifelong education to suit your
needs.
- If you have barriers which prevent you from attending The
Carers' Resource, we will provide the necessary support. This may
include a sitting service or childcare to support your relative
while you access our facilities.
- You will be treated at all times with courtesy and respect.
Rochdale Council is very serious about its commitment to equal
opportunities, and will challenge any incidences of racism,
discrimination or harassment.
- The Carers' Resource will seek to listen to your views around
the service at all times, and to involve you in its consultative
process.
- The Carers' Resource will provide you with assistance if you
have language support needs.
- The Carers' Resource will provide you with support services if
you have a disability of any nature.
- The Carers' Resource will inform you of any changes that may
affect the way you use the service or your entitlement to use
it.
- Any information which attributes to you will be stored in a
secure way and will not be made available to outside agencies
unless disclosure is deemed necessary. (Please refer to our
disclosure policy, available on request)
- The Carers Resource can provide information, advice and
emotional support.
What we expect from you
- You will supply the information that is needed to place you on
The Carers' Resource database.
- If you enrol on any courses, you will make every effort to
attend and if you are finding it difficult, you will speak to us
and seek ways around the problem.
- When you are at The Carers' Resource, you will treat all other
carers and staff with respect and consideration. The Carers'
Resource provides a service to all carers irrespective of race,
faith, gender, age, sexual orientation or disability.
- If your situation changes you will inform The Carers' Resource
and discuss with us how you will use the resource in the
future.
- If you know of other carers in your family or by friendship you
will tell them about of The Carers' Resource and encourage them to
get in touch with us.
What will happen at The Carers' Resource
This a brief outline of the processes that we use to make sure
that you are receiving the right services and support from The
Carers' Resource.
Referral
You can refer yourself by simply calling The Carers' Resource
and discussing your problems over the phone, or by arranging an
informal meeting with us. We are operating in Rochdale, Heywood and
Middleton so you can pick a location which is convenient for you.
You can get other people to contact us on your behalf if you feel
the first step is a big one to take alone (eg your doctor,
community nurse, social worker, support group leader or a friend or
relative).
Initial meeting
We understand that meeting us for the first time may feel a bit
daunting so please bring along a friend or other family member if
you wish. At our first meeting we will not expect you to give us
all the information we may need to begin supporting you. However
the more you tell us the better we will be able to support you. We
usually discuss the following general areas with carers in your
preferred language: -
- Yourself and your own needs
- The person you care for and how you support them
- Your benefit or pension needs
- The services that may assist you to support the person you look
after
- Social and Health Care Services and how to use them
- Carer's Assessment
- Your training and educational needs
- Your employment needs
- Your emotional support needs
- Your housing concerns
- Any thing else that you want to discuss, or ask for help
with
On some subjects you will be given the information on the day.
For others, we may need a little time to make more enquires on your
behalf, in which case we will arrange a future meeting
Regular activities
Drop ins
We are open for drop ins all week at specific times. You are
free to call in for support, or just to have a coffee and relax in
our comfy room. If you wish to discuss a problem with a member of
staff, please try to telephone in advance to check that somebody
will be free to see you, particularly if you require assistance in
community languages.
Courses
At present we are running the following free courses for
carers:
- Beginners Computers
- IT Beginners & ITQ2
- Internet & Email
- First Aid at Work
- Personal Development (including stress management, coping
skills and beauty therapy
- Card Making
- ESOL (English for speakers of other languages)
- Literacy and Numeracy - improve your reading, writing and
number skills.
- Male Carers
- Art Group
- Carers Choir
- Coffee Morning
- Knit & Natter
Social events
We run social events from time to time, and you're welcome to
come along to these events and to get involved in organising them
if you wish.
| Event |
Description |
Date & Time |
Location |
Contact |
| Carers Support Groups |
Carer-led Coffee MorningHeld, Run by carers for carers. Come
along to be supported by other carers who understand |
Wednesday morning between 10am-12pm |
Newbold Buildings, Rochdale |
The Carers' Resource on 01706 925808 |
| Macmillan Nurses Support Group |
A support group for service users and carers of people with
cancer or a life-limiting illness for advice, information and
support |
Arrange an appointment |
|
The Carers' Resource on 01706 925808
The Carers' Resource on 01706 925808
|
|
Aashiyana Carers Group
|
Carer-led support group run by Preet Sandhu, Zahida Iqbal, and
Shamim Akhtar and for carers from South Asian communities with a
son or daughter with learning disabilities, physical disabilities
or complex health needs. |
Held on the last Tuesday in the month |
The Carers' Resource |
Rochdale Gateway on 01706 515806 |
| Parents Forum for Children with
Disabilities |
For support, information and advice when caring for a child
with a disability. |
Contact us for details of meetings |
Rochdale, Heywood & Middleton |
Elizabeth or Carol on 07901 854741
The Carers' Resource on 01706 925808 |
| Mood Swings |
For service users and carers of people with mental health
needs.
|
Held on the 4th Tuesday in the month between
7pm-9pm |
Newbold Buildings, Rochdale. |
The Carers' Resource on 01706 925808 |
| Alzheimer’s Carers’ Support Group |
For service users and carers of people with Alzheimers.
|
Held on the last Wednesday of the month between 1.30pm-3pm |
St. Andrew's Church Hall, Baillie Street, Rochdale. |
Tania Taylor on 01706 379034 |
Volunteers at The Carers' Resource
Carers are welcome to get involved with voluntary activities at
The Carers' Resource. This could range from arranging a coffee
morning to helping to staff the drop in sessions.
Keeping in touch with the Carers' Resource
Newsletter
We publish regular newsletters to keep our carers up to date
with our activities and to provide other information. If you would
like to include an item in the newsletter, please talk to staff and
we can support you to do this.
Carers week
During June of each year we hold a series of events to raise
awareness of carers' issues. You will be welcome to come along to
all of these events as a carer or as a volunteer.
Carers Rights Day
Thousands of people looking after sick or disabled relatives at
home in the Borough of Rochdale, may be missing out on vital
support that might help them to juggle work and care or just make
life easier.
- Increase take up of benefits
- Make sure carers know their rights
- Guide carers towards practical support
- Raise awareness of the needs of carers
Read the Carers Week programme (1MB
pdf)
Drop-in to see us at any of the following times:
- Monday 10am-12noon
- Wednesday 10am–12noon (Run by carers, for carers)
- Thursday 1pm-3pm
Or Drop-in to see us at Heywood Training & Community Suite,
Heywood Market on Tuesdays 10am-12noon, or at Comple@t,
Mondays 1pm-3pm
Contact
The Carers' Resource
Newbold Buildings
Oldham Road
Rochdale OL16 5QJ
Heywood Training and Community Suite
Heywood Market
Hartley Street
Heywood
Unit 5-6 Midway House,
Middleton Gardens,
Off Fountain Street,
Middleton,
M24 1AF
Tel: 01706 925808
Freephone: 0800 0910558
Fax: 01706 925809
Minicom: 01706 925810
Email: thecarersresource@rochdale.gov.uk
Opening times
Rochdale:
Monday
10am-12noon
Wednesday 10am-12noon
Thursday 1pm-3pm
Heywood:
Tuesday 10am-12noon
Saturday 10pm-12noon, first Saturday of each month
