Welcome to the new edition of the Unpaid Carers' Newsletter

You can find the latest news and useful information to help you to continue to support the people you care for, and let you know what we’re doing to meet the actions in the Borough That Cares Strategic Framework. 

Carers Rights Day - Thursday 23 November

Carers Rights Day is a national day that aims to ensure carers are aware of their rights, let carers know where to get help and support, and raise awareness of the needs of carers.

We have a whole range of events to mark national Carers Rights Day.

Have you registered as a Carer with your GP?

GP practices keep a list of patients who provide unpaid care to someone with a long-term health condition.

When you register as a carer with your GP, it will enable them to support you in your caring role and ensure your health is as much of a priority as the person you care for.

What is offered varies between practices, but it often includes:

• free annual health checks
• the annual flu jab and Covid-19 boosters
• access to a Carer’s Champion who can support you in your caring role
• support with your physical and mental health to enable you to carry out your caring responsibilities
• general information and advice about being a carer
• signposting to other services that could help, such as support groups, day centres and respite care for the person you look after
• flexibility with booking appointments for you and the person you care for – for example, if you both need to see the GP, booking appointments back-to-back so you do not have to visit the surgery twice
• help with prescriptions, such as having them delivered to your home

You can request a registration form or alternatively, Carers UK has produced a template letter that you can complete and send to your GP.

Do you care for someone with Alzheimers or Dementia?

Have you registered your loved one on the Herbert Protocol?

The Herbert Protocol is an initiative supported by South Yorkshire Police and other agencies which encourages carers to compile useful information which could be used in the event of the cared for person going missing.

Carers, family members and friends can complete, in advance, a form recording all vital details, such as medication required, mobile numbers, places previously located, a photograph etc.  In the event of your family member or friend going missing, the form can be easily sent or handed to the police to reduce the time taken in gathering this information.

The Herbert Protocol initiative is named after George Herbert, a war veteran of the Normandy landings, who lived with dementia.

Herbert Protocol - SYP (southyorks.police.uk)

Wristbands and hangtags

In addition to registering with the Herbert Protocol, relatives and carers can request an NFC enabled (Near-field Communication) assistance wristband or hangtag for their family members. The devices are programmed by South Yorkshire Police and store information about the wearer including their name and an emergency contact number. Should the wearer gos missing, information can be retrieved by emergency services and health professionals via a mobile phone to help return the wearer to safety. Please send email requests with a completed Herbert Protocol form to 

herbert_protocol@southyorks.pnn.police.uk

You can download a form here: https://www.southyorks.police.uk/media/10941/herbert-protocol-form-sept-2023.docx

Emergency planning - Carers Emergency Scheme

Carers often worry about what will happen if they become ill or are suddenly unavailable to provide care. Contingency arrangements are something you should talk about with the person you care for and family and friends who might be available to provide support.

Supporting you with contingency planning will form part of a carers assessment. Rotherham Borough Councils Carers Emergency Scheme enables you to access care and support for the person you care for if there is an emergency and there is no-one else who can step in to provide the care you would usually provide.

Criteria

The scheme can only be used in an emergency, for instance when the Carer sustains a sudden injury, illness or has an unplanned hospital admission when there is no family member or friend who can step in. The scheme will aim to provide support within the hour and will provide support for up 48 hours (or 72 hours during a bank holiday). This will allow time for any longer term need to be assessed and a care plan to be put in place, if required.

To request a Carers Assessment and to register for the scheme contact Adult Customer Contact Team on 01709 822330 or e-mail: 

ASC-CustomerContactTeam@rotherham.gov.uk

Get active

Here are three ways to improve your health and wellbeing:

Rotherham United Community Trust has a variety of activities on offer for both carers and their cared for person.  A weekly calendar of health and wellbeing activities take place throughout the week, a few examples include badminton, walking football, fitness sessions and disco yoga.  The Community Trust aims to help people improve their mental health through physical activity and has something on offer for all levels of fitness.

Rotherham Healthwave is an initiative backed by Connect Healthcare CIC, aiming to support residents of Rotherham in their journey towards a healthier lifestyle. They offer resources, classes, and support for those looking to stop smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, or lose weight. A comprehensive approach combines digital resources with real-world events and support, and is completely free.  You don’t have to be referred to the service, you can refer yourself by registering on the webpage:

Rotherham Leisure Centre has an Inclusive Membership available for people in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Disability Living Allowance for Children and Carers Allowance.

They offer a reduced monthly membership rate of £16.50 per month instead of the regular £33 per month, there is a £20 administration fee upon joining (the same as all other memberships).

Please note that the pricings were correct at time of publication but are subject to change, please contact DC Leisure to confirm.

Health and wellbeing activities available

Over the summer Rotherham Borough Council awarded small grants to a number of groups in Rotherham.

The funding supports projects that improve the health and wellbeing of unpaid carers throughout the Borough and is in place until the end of March 2024. 

Have a look at the great projects and join in

ACTIVATE RAWMARSH: THE PARENT/CARER SOCIAL SUPPORT CLUB

Coffee mornings, a walking club and socially active exercise classes for members of the parent carers support club.

Activate Rawmarsh

ACTIVE FOR LIFE SOLUTIONS LTD: CARING FOR CARERS!

Weekly exercise classes.

Active for Life Solutions

BEACON SOUTH YORKSHIRE: ART PSYCHOTHERAPY

Weekly course of art therapy.

Beacon South Yorkshire

HEADWAY ROTHERHAM: HEADWAY ROTHERHAM CARERS

Monthly social peer group support with organised events for carers who support a brain injury survivor.

Headway Rotherham | Headway

KIVETON PARK & WALES COMMUNITY TRUST: CARER SUPPORT & SOCIAL GROUP

Weekly social opportunity and advice and information sessions.

Kiveton Park and Wales Development Trust

LOST CHORD UK: THE LCUK CHOIR THAT CARES

Weekly carers choir.

Lost Chord UK Dementia Charity

NAYI ZINDAGI – TIMEOUT

Weekly art workshops.

Nayi Zindagi: Facebook

PIVOTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING CIC: GENTLE EXERCISE AND SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR DEMENTIA CARERS

Weekly low impact exercise classes for carers of people with dementia.

Pivotal Health and Wellbeing CIC | Rotherham | Facebook

ROTHERHAM CARERS FORUM

Advice and information sessions with an opportunity for relaxation.

Rotherham Carers Forum

ROTHERHAM LIVING INDEPENDENTLY FOR EVERYONE (LIFE) GROUP: CARERS FIRST PROJECT

Weekly low impact exercise and cooking classes  for female BAME carers.

rotherhamlifegroup@gmail.com

ROTHERHAM PARENT CARERS FORUM: SEND CONNECT

Advice and information and craft sessions.

Rotherham Parent Carers Forum (RPCF)

ROTHERHAM UNITED COMMUNITY TRUST: MATCH DAY MATES

Gym sessions whilst the cared for person is looked after with attendance to home games.

Homepage - Rotherham United Community Trust (ruct.co.uk)

ROTHERHAM WAH HONG CHINESE ASSOCIATION

Physical activity and craft sessions.

Rotherham Wah Hong Chinese Association

S62 COMMUNITY TOGETHER CIC: THE CARED FOR CARER PROJECT

 A 6 week course of varied activities.

S62 Community Together Rotherham

THE BRECKS COMMUNITY HUB CIC: THE CARERS WELLBEING PROJECT

A  bi-monthly activity session with a varied range of topics.

The Brecks Community Hub

THE CENTRE: BRINSWORTH COMMUNITY TRUST: CARE FOR CARERS

Weekly wellbeing activity workshops.

The Centre: Brinsworth Parish Council

THE HIGH STREET CENTRE LTD: STRONGER TOGETHER CARER SUPPORT

Mindfulness sessions and peer group support.

High Street Centre Rawmarsh

THE LEARNING COMMUNITY LTD: GIVING BACK PROJECT

Weekly sessions with a range of activities and a walking group.

The Learning Community

THE RAINBOW PROJECT ROTHERHAM

A weekly craft based activity session and a hot meal for members of the group. members.

The Rainbow Project

Health and wellbeing activities in action

Rotherham Wah Hong association taking part in flower arranging and celebrating the Moon Festival with moon cake and lantern making at the Unity Centre.

The Learning Community in Dinnington taking part in nutrition guidance and a healthy eating cooking lesson.

Do you need help to feed your pets?

Critters Kitchen is a pet food bank for people and animals in need.  They help Rotherham residents to keep their pets at home with their families during tough times. 

Based in Hellaby, Rotherham they provide pet food parcels for collection on Tuesday and Fridays between 1pm and 3pm and are always grateful for donations.

Please visit their website for further details: Home | Critters Kitchen

It's time to get your Flu vaccination

Flu isn’t just a heavy cold. Flu occurs every year, usually in the winter, which is why it’s sometimes called seasonal flu. It’s a highly infectious disease with symptoms that come on very quickly. Colds are much less serious and usually start gradually with a stuffy or runny nose and a sore throat. A bad bout of flu can be much worse than a heavy cold.

The most common symptoms of flu are fever, chills, headache, aches and pains in the joints and muscles, and extreme tiredness. Healthy individuals usually recover within 2 to 7 days, but for some the disease can lead to hospitalisation, permanent disability or even death.

Vaccination is an essential part of protection over the colder months. Where possible the vaccination for Flu and Covid-19 will be offered at the same time.

People eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine:

• those aged 65 years and over
• those aged 6 months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
• pregnant women
• all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2023
• primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)
• those in long-stay residential care homes 
• carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
• close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
•  Carers employed by those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants

Also Eligible for a Covid-19 booster vaccine:

• Residents in a care home for older adults
• All adults aged 65 years and over
• Persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group
• Frontline health and social care workers
• Persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression.
• Persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers and staff working in care homes for older adults.

All carers are urged to book an appointment as soon as possible for BOTH vaccines. The National Booking Service (NBS) is now open.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/covid-19-services/covid-19-vaccination-services/book-covid-19-vaccination/

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/covid-19-services/covid-19-vaccination-services/find-a-walk-in-covid-19-vaccination-site/

Here to help

Rotherham Council's carers information pages have been updated. 

Please visit:

Information for carers – Rotherham Council