There are lots of resources for carers where you can find up to the minute information and advice. These include online resources. There are also carers forums to get involved with. Then there are local organisations offering impartial, expert information, signposting and advice for carers and their families.
Dudley Carers Network
This Dudley Council run service provides a signposting advice and information service to carers by phone or email. They also manage and administer carers assessments and offer a Carers Peace of Mind Scheme.
The network produce a regular newsletter The Dudley Carer which is published three times each year and is full of useful and timely updates.
Carers can also contact the network to sign up to the Options+ Card - a leisure discount scheme.
The network also offers carers a short online training module which is extremely useful for carers who want to know about their rights and local support available. Click on this link to access the Carer Aware training
Contact the network on 01384 818723 or email carers.network@dudley.gov.uk.
Carers Tea & Chat
An informal way to meet other carers and people from organsations that can help carers find support in their caring role. The tea & chat sessions are hosted by Dudley Council, Healthwatch Dudley and Dudley Group of Hospitals Foundation Trust working in partnership together.
The carers group is held on the first and third Friday of every month, from 9.30am until 12 noon at Lunch on the Run cafe, at DY1, Stafford Street, Dudley, DY1 1RT.
It is also held weekly on the wards of Russells Hall Hospital. It is an ideal opportunity to meet other carers, access information and advice while having a cuppa.
Russells Hall Hospital carers support
A Carers Coordinator is based at Russells Hall Hospital. They offer information, advice and support to carers across Dudley borough.
The hospital Carer Coordinator works to:
• identify relatives and/or friends who provide care or support to patients within the Trust
• assist relatives and/or friends in recognising their caring role and identify appropriate support that is available
• promote the rights and needs of carers to Hospital Trust staff
• provide information and support to carers and staff to enable carers to access services in regard to health, social care, benefits, admission and discharge process as well as information and support available to carers
• contact identified carers following discharge to establish any further support needs they may have
You can contact the carer coordinator yourself or ask a member of the hospital staff to contact her on your behalf. She can then either communicate with you by phone, text, email or make an appointment to meet with you either at the hospital or in the local community to suit your needs.
Phone: (01384) 456111 (Ext. 1568)
or Phone: (01384) 573381
Email: carers@dudleycvs.org.uk
Dudley Community Information Directory
The Dudley Community Information Directory is an online directory listing which contains masses of information on local services, groups, activities and organisations that offer help and support to Dudley borough residents. Carers can find services to help support them or the people that they care for in the directory. Click here to have a flick through
Community information points
There are a number of community information points located across our borough in libraries, cafes, pharmacies and other places where people already access information about local services. They are manned by trained information champions who provide .signposting to health, wellbeing and care services, or help people to understand where to go for benefits or debt advice.
Community Information Champions
Dudley libraries carers folders
Carers can go into their local Dudley borough library and staff will help them access useful information. Local libraries carry a stock of books of interest to carers as well as carers folders, full of useful information for carers. Click on the libraries link to find details of your nearest library, search for books online or use the Community Information Database to see what activities and events go on across the borough.
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