Carers’ breaks and time for yourself
Taking a break from caring can help you look after your own health and wellbeing. Breaks can be for a short time or longer, depending on your circumstances and the needs of the person you care for.
Staffordshire Together for Carers offers free support, including carers groups, befriending and peer support, which may help you take some time for yourself.
Your Carer’s Assessment can also look at your need for a break and what support may help you.
What happens next
- Ask for a Carer’s Assessment
Contact the All Age Carers Team:- Telephone: 0300 111 8010
- Email: firstcontactcarers@staffordshire.gov.uk
- Talk about your need for a break
As part of your Carer’s Assessment, you can talk about how caring affects your wellbeing and whether taking a break would help you.
You can also discuss what support may be needed for the person you care for while you take a break. - Agree what support may help
We’ll discuss what could help you take a break. This could include regular short breaks or occasional longer breaks.
If you are eligible for support, we may also discuss whether a Carers Direct Payment could help support your wellbeing. - Arrange your break
Depending on your circumstances, a break could include:- help from family or friends
- activities or support through Staffordshire Together for Carers
- day opportunities
- support at home
- support from a personal assistant
- a short stay away from home
- If the person you care for needs care while you take a break
The person you care for may be able to get respite care if they:- live in Staffordshire
- have eligible care and support needs under the Care Act 2014
Their care and support needs will need to be considered when deciding what support can be arranged while you take a break.
How long it takes to arrange support will depend on your circumstances and the availability of suitable services.
- live in Staffordshire
- have eligible care and support needs under the Care Act 2014
Costs
- Staffordshire Together for Carers activities and groups are free for carers.
- If you are eligible for support, we may discuss whether a Carers Direct Payment could help support your wellbeing.
- A Carers Direct Payment cannot be used for general holiday costs, such as hotels, travel or meals.
If the person you care for needs care or support while you take a break, they may need to contribute towards the cost.
- If they already pay towards their care, they will not pay extra for respite care.
- If they do not already pay towards their care, they may need a financial assessment.
- A financial assessment looks at income, savings and some expenses to work out how much they may need to contribute towards their care and support.
- If they fund their own care and ask the council to arrange it, an arrangement fee will apply.
Contact us
To ask for a Carer’s Assessment
Contact Staffordshire Cares:
- Telephone: 0300 111 8010
If you need help in an emergency outside normal working hours
Contact the Emergency Duty Team:
- Telephone: 0345 604 2886
