• Wandsworth Carer’s Centre – General Leaflet
  (NEW – approved printed version Feb 2010)
• Carers Centre Breaks Leaflet
• Carers Mental Health Support Leaflet
• Carers Centre Drugs & Alcohol Leaflet
• Carers Emergency Support Scheme Leaflet

Wandsworth Council also have a set of Carer-related leaflets to download.

• Wandsworth Council: Carers downloads

The Emergency Card is designed to alert people, in the event of an emergency, that you are a Carer and that someone depends on you.

What is the Carers Emergency Support Scheme?

The Carers Emergency Support Scheme is designed to help you have peace of mind when you are away from the person you care for. It provides you with a pocket sized card that you carry on you, that can be used if you have an accident, are taken ill, or cannot get back to the person you care for. It is there to alert others that there is someone needing support who relies on you.

Who is the scheme for?

The scheme is for Carers looking after someone who lives in the borough of Wandsworth, who could not manage without help and would be at risk if the Carer was unable to get back to look after them.

Who are Carers?

A Carer is someone, who, without payment, provides help and support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without their help. This could be due to age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability.
The term Carer should not be confused with a care-worker, or care assistant, who receive payment for looking after someone.

How does it work?

The Carers Emergency Support Scheme Worker from Wandsworth Carers’ Centre will meet with you to work out your Emergency Plan. The Emergency Plan will then be held by Wandsworth Council to be accessed and activated in the event of an emergency.

You will be given a pocket sized card to place in your purse/wallet that, in the event of an emergency, will alert people that you are a Carer and that someone depends on you. On the card there will be your personal Registration Number, and the telephone number of Wandsworth Emergency Control Centre, which operates 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

What happens when someone calls Wandsworth Emergency Control Centre?

The Wandsworth Emergency Control Centre operators will respond by following the instructions in your Emergency Plan which may mean contacting a friend, relative or an emergency support provider.

What if I don’t know of anyone to support the person I care for in an emergency?

There is an emergency support service which can offer free support for up to 48 hours in the cared for person’s home. After 48 hours, they will help plan for long term cover if required.

Why register with the Carers Emergency Support Scheme?

Everyone values their independence, even if someone depends on you. It is when the unexpected happens
that you need a service you can rely on to promptly provide support at home for the person you care for. The service is designed to give you that added peace of mind.

How much does it cost?

There is no cost to Carers.

Emma George, Carers Emergency Support Scheme Development Worker
Phone: 020 8675 0811
email: emma@wandsworthcarers.org.uk

• Benefits
• Housing
• Respite Care
• Getting a break – holidays, respite

Languages spoken in addition to English include Hindi, Punjabi, Gujrati, Urdu, Vietnamese and Cantonese.

All information and advice is FREE and CONFIDENTIAL.

The particular therapies available vary according to the availability of the volunteers. Some of the most popular therapies include massage and acupuncture.

Currently available at the Wandsworth office:

Osteopathy

Massage

Acupuncture – Coming Soon

To have an appointment in any of these therapies please contact the Wandsworth office on 020 8877 1200. There is a waiting list for popular therapies, your name will be added to the waiting list and you will be contacted once an appointment becomes available.

Currently available at the Balham office:

Acupuncture

Massage

Reflexology

Rekhi – Coming Soon

Life Coaching – Coming Soon

To have an appointment in any of these therapies please contact the Balham office on 020 8675 0811. There is a waiting list for popular therapies, your name will be added to the waiting list and you will be contacted once an appointment becomes available..

Examples of comments from Carers following treatments:

“I found the treatment very beneficial – I can walk better and I feel less stressed out”

“It helps me relax so well. Thank you very much for the services provided, they have really improved my ‘feel good factor’, my life and alleviated a lot of my pain. It has helped me be a better carer”

You will be offered an initial meeting with a member of staff from the Centre to help you find out more about the counselling on offer. We provide ‘open – ended’ counselling, meaning there is no maximum number of appointments you can have. You would need to be able to commit to attending on the same day at the same time each week. Appointments take place at both our Balham and Wandsworth offices. This is a confidential service.

To find out more please contact Daniel on 020 8675 0811.

Support Groups Include:

• Carers of Adults & Young Adults with Learning Difficulties
• Carers of People with Alzheimer’s or Dementia
• Former Carers’ Support Group
• Carers of Older People
• Carers of People with a Mental Illness
• Asian Carers
• Coffee Club for all Carers
• Carers of People who have had a Stroke

• Back care
• Aids & Equipment
• Training on moving & handling

To find out more or add your name to the waiting list please contact 020 8877 1200.

• Applying for grants to assist with breaks
• Identifying appropriate holiday destinations
• Booking accommodation & transport
• Advice on respite for the cared for
• Organising day trips & group holidays for Carers
• Helping to access breaks information online

Information Sessions are also run which provide carers with an opportunity to meet others in a similar situation and learn more about mental illness, treatments and services, as well as carers’ rights and coping strategies.

Mental Health Family Therapy leaftlet for families linked with the Mental Health Trust.