Family and carers

If you need help, advice, or information you may wish to talk to the Care Coordinator or Keyworker, or the person who organises the care for your loved one.   With permission, they can talk to you about the care being provided to the person you care for and they will involve you whenever possible. You can also talk to your GP if you have concerns.

When you’re worried about the person you’re looking after, it can sometimes be difficult making peopleunderstand what’s wrong and why you’re concerned. The SBARD structure helps you to organise your thoughts before you call so that you can get the help you need. 

Download the SBARD postcard and use it to help you organise your thoughts before making a call to services. 

If you’ve got the consent of the person to be involved in their care, please contact their main worker. If not, please call our Family Liaison Team on 0800 027 2128 or email family.liaison@derbyshcft.nhs.uk

We have active carer groups available for carers and families to join. These groups are friendly spaces where carers can come together to take time for themselves and speak with others who have similar caring responsibilities.

We have groups taking place at:

• Hartington Unit in Chesterfield
• Radbourne Unit in Derby
• Early Intervention Service
• Kingsway Hospital Derby

To find out about meeting times and venues email lynn.dunham@nhs.net

Plans are underway to carry out a survey of carers and families of people in our services.

It is important we know how carers and families think and feel about the services we provide to their loved ones and to make sure they are included and involved in care.

There is lots of different ways carers and families can tell us about their experiences, includes concerns, compliments, and complaints. 

Visit our patient experience page for more information on how to do this. 

We hold a monthly carers engagement meeting.  This meeting provides an opportunity to come together to address issues that affect carers and families. 

We work together to seek solutions to tricky issues and look for ways to improve what we do. 

The monthly engagement group is well attended by representatives of the mental health carer peer support forums, members from the wider local carer community and carer champions and is a well-established, active, and productive group that influences Trust policies and practices.

The group tackles the issues that directly impact and challenge carers and families with members of the group acting as “critical friends” to our organisation.

​​​​​​​Mental Health Carers Community: Chesterfield & North Derbyshire meets on the last Wednesday of every month from 10am-1pm at St Thomas Centre (behind St Thomas Church), Chatsworth Road, Brampton, Chesterfield S40 3AW.  New Carers are always welcome, call 07730 526219 or email jose.rodgers@nhs.net 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​For carers living in South Derbyshire, the Derby City and South Derbyshire Mental Health Forum generally meets on the third Friday of every month between 11.30am and 2pm at The Oddfellows Hall, 32 Charnwood Street, Derby, DE1 2GU, contact Sandra on 07779 107087

The Trust is a member of the Triangle of Care: Carers Included Membership Scheme run by the Carer’s Trust and has achieved the two-gold star status. This recognises the Trust’s commitment to working with and supporting Carers at every level of the care journey within Trust services.

Read more about the Triangle of Care Membership Scheme in England 

The Triangle of Care scheme sets six standards which we adhere to, as below:

1) Carers and the essential role they play are identified at first contact or as soon as possible thereafter.

2) Staff are ‘carer aware’ and trained in carer engagement strategies.

3) Policy and practice protocols re: confidentiality and sharing information, are in place.

4) Defined post(s) responsible for carers are in place.

5) A carer introduction to the service and staff is available, with a relevant range of information across the care pathway.

6) A range of carer support services is available
 

“The Triangle of Care makes sense, you can tell that carers designed it.” - Carer Representative

“The Triangle is right, we’re all in this together.” - Carer Representative

“Triangle of Care has given us the right tools to develop and shape services which recognise the importance and value of carers, families and supporters of people in our services.  Triangle of Care has helped us adjust perspectives, change culture, and provide better care” - Staff member

Our information leaflets, booklets and posters are displayed in all of our services, and we also provide these on our website for anyone to view or download. We co-produce these publications with carers to make sure they contain the best and most useful information. Co-production sits at the heart of the work we do to ensure we listen and learn from carer experts by experience. You can find these resources and others on our website.

We also produce a carer’s newsletter titled “Who Cares?” and have recently published the 50th edition. The newsletter is posted out to over two thousand Carers and you can view the latest edition below:

'Who Cares?' newsletter January 2023

If you would like a copy of any previous editions please contact our CPA, Carers and Core Care Standards Co-ordinator on 07824 596690.

The Trust has embedded a network of carer champions. These are Trust staff who are passionate about making sure we listen to, support, and involve carers and families. This group of staff are key to the sharing of information and good practice within Trust teams. Supporting carers is everybody’s business but our carer champions have an enhanced role in advocating for and championing the vital contribution carers and families make.

Triangle of Care and carer awareness training is mandatory for all clinical staff and is a way of making sure everyone knows how to work with and involve carers and families, and apply the Triangle of Care Standards in their practice. 

We have policies and procedures in place to ensure everyone in the Trust understands their responsibilities and commitments to carers and families. These policies include:

• Carers: Working with and supporting Carers and Families
• Patient and Carer Experience Strategy 2019-2024
• Participant, Carer and Experts by Experience Recognition, Reward and Remuneration Policy and Procedure
• Care Principles and CPA Policy and Procedures
• Discharge, Transfer/Transitions and Leave Policy & Procedure for people with mental health difficulties
• Safeguarding Adults Policy

View our policies dashboard to search for our carer-related policies and procedures.

Derbyshire Carers Association (DCA) support Carers who look after a family member, partner, friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, mental ill health or an addiction.

Derbyshire Carers Association deliver a support service to Adult and Young Carers throughout Derbyshire (but not the city of Derby). The services available are created to support Carers with the practical, physical, and the emotional impact of care giving. Derbyshire Carers Association provide Carers Assessments to identify the support you may need as a Carer and the things that could make your caring role easier for you.

A Carer Personal Budget (formally known as a Carer’s Break Award or Grant) is an amount of money arising from a Carers Assessment, which is to support you in your caring role. It is not means tested and if you are eligible for this, you have a wide choice about how the money is spent. The budget is made available for you to spend on purchases or activities which improve your quality of life as a Carer.

Derbyshire Carers Association also provide a broad mixture of support, activities, and events for carers.  These include advice, newsletters, befriending, peer support groups and carer training.  You can self-refer, or a member of your health care team can make contact on your behalf.  Telephone: 01773 833833 or email info@derbyshirecarers.co.uk.

The Young Carers Service can be contacted on 01773 833833 or by email youngcarers@derbyshirecarers.co.uk

Our service aims to empower unpaid carers who are caring for someone who lives in Derby City. An unpaid carer is anyone who is looking after a family member, friend, or neighbour who, due to disability, physical or mental health condition, illness, or addiction, cannot cope without support.

We offer practical and personal support to enable carers to lead healthy and fulfilled lives. To access our support the carer must be over 18 years old.

What we offer:

• Helpline and email- available Monday to Friday, 9 -5- Offering information, guidance, referrals to other services and Carers Conversations (Please note, Carers Conversations are for unpaid carers aged 18+, caring for someone who is aged 18+)
• Emergency Planning
• Well-being activities and events
• Awareness raising and personal development
• Community Engagement- including Peer Support and our 'Carers Monthly' newsletter.

Telephone - 01332 228777
Email - carers@citizensadvicemidmercia.org.uk
Web - www.citizensadvicemidmereia.org.uk/carers/ ​​​​​Twitter - @carers_derby
Instagram - carers_derby
Facebook - carersinderby

Download brochure

Safeguarding means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.  People and organisations in Derbyshire and Derby City work together to prevent the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that wellbeing is promoted. Some adults may not be able to take care of themselves very well or protect themselves from abuse or exploitation.  If you're worried about yourself or someone else being abused or neglected, please contact Call Derbyshire on 01629 533190.  You can phone Call Derbyshire anonymously without revealing your name. You can also visit the website for more information www.derbyshiresab.org.uk

• Derbyshire Young Carers Service provide support to Young Carers across the county (Not Derby City). We believe Young Carers should have the same opportunities as everyone else.
• Young Carers Support - Derby City Council

If you care for someone with Dementia you can find help and support by contacting Making Space in Derby City. Making Space has a clear vision - you have the right to continue doing what you have always done, for as long as possible and they offer lots of different groups and activities for the person affected by Dementia and their Carers.  You can contact this service on 01332 497640, or email derbycity.dementia-services@makingspace.co.uk  You can also get advice and support by contacting the Alzheimer’s Society National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 11 22.  This confidential helpline is for carers, those with dementia and the friends and families of people with dementia.
 

Becoming a carer can have a fundamental impact on your finances and the finances of the wider family unit.  Derbyshire Carers Association offer free legal and financial advice, and this covers matters such as Wills, Powers of Attorney, Care Home Fees and Personal Injury.  As a carer you may be entitled to welfare benefits such as Carers Credit or a Carers Allowance. Whilst information can be found at www.gov.uk/carers-credit  and www.gov.uk/carers-allowance you can also receive help from Derbyshire Welfare Rights Service, contact them on 01629 531535 or email: welfarebenefits@derbyshire.gov.uk

The Herbert Protocol is a national scheme introduced by Derbyshire police, and is supported by the Derbyshire Safeguarding Adults Board.

It encourages carers to compile useful information which could be used if an adult who has care and support needs goes missing. Carers, family members and friends or professionals can complete the form in advance.

The form records all vital details, such as medication required, mobile numbers, places previously located and a photograph, which will help locate the person if they ever go missing.

If your family member or friend goes missing, the form can be easily sent or handed to the police to reduce the time taken in gathering this information.

It is not intended to replace existing safeguarding measures.

Download the form and find out more about the Herbert Protocol.

The Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline and Support Service is a freephone service available to everyone living in Derbyshire, including carers and family members. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you or your loved one are experiencing distress or anxiety, or feeling that you cannot cope, you can call 0800 028 0077 for support over the phone. That support could be about your mental health, but you can also talk through practical issues that may be causing concern.

Talking Mental Health Derbyshire is an approved NHS provider of talking therapies. Talking therapy is a way to explore your difficulties with a trained professional, sorting through your problems to get some relief from tension and have a safe place to explore how you are feeling, gain a new understanding of your problems, and plan what you want to do to overcome them.

The service is free and you can refer yourself by calling 0300 123 0542 or emailing dhcft.talking@nhs.net  If you want to find out more about the service you can visit the website.

There are four Urgent Treatment Centres in Derbyshire (UTCs) Buxton, Ilkeston, Ripley and Whitworth Hospital and are open seven days a week, between 8am and 8pm across Derbyshire.  Urgent Treatment Centres can treat a range of minor injuries and ailments without needing to visit a big hospital. You can call 111 or go online to 111.nhs.uk  to arrange an appointment. For more information visit the website.

Derby City Urgent Treatment Centre is based in Derby City Centre at Entrance C, Osmaston Road, Derby, DE1 2GD. The service runs from 8am-8pm, 7 days a week. The service is for patients who need treatment for common illness conditions or minor injuries that are too urgent to wait for a GP appointment but do not need emergency treatment at an A&E department. You can call 111 or go online to 111.nhs.uk to arrange an appointment.  For more information visit the website.

In medical emergency and life-threatening situations, where a person has taken an overdose, or needs urgent medical attention, please dial 999 or attend your nearest hospital A&E department.

For immediate life-threatening emergencies, where a crime is being committed, or a fire is in progress, contact the emergency services by calling 999 immediately and ask for the Ambulance, Police or Fire Service.  If it is a non-emergency police issue, please call 101.

​​​​​​​NHS Social Care and Support Guide –  for information about social care support if you care for someone who needs help with day-to-day living because of illness or disability. 

​​​​​​​Sidekick is a confidential helpline for young carers aged 13-18 in the UK.

Visit www.sidekick.actionforchildren.org.uk or text 07888 868059. You can speak to someone about anything you’d like and it will be confidential and there will never be any judgement

The Patient Experience Team is the central point of contact for people to provide feedback and raise concerns about the services provided by Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. You can contact the service if you have a concern, complaint, or compliment about the service the person you care for may be receiving.  We don’t always get things right all the time and the feedback you provide can help the Trust to keep improving services. You can contact the team on 01332 623751 or 0800 027 2128 or emailing dhcft.patientexperience@nhs.net.

If you are a Carer for someone with Dementia you can find help and support from Derbyshire Dementia Support Service.  The service can support both you and your family members and carers through the different stages of dementia. The Dementia Support Service delivers a range of groups for people affected by memory loss or dementia where you can meet other people who find themselves in similar circumstances to you.  You don't need an official diagnosis of dementia or be of a certain age to get advice and support from the service. You can contact the service if you're worried about someone’s memory, or you're just seeking information and advice for yourself or others. Carers supporting people living with dementia can be referred for support in their own right. 

You can also get advice and support by contacting the Alzheimer’s Society National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122.  This confidential helpline is for carers, those with dementia and the friends and families of people with dementia.

Carers in Derbyshire is a website which has been created by a partnership of unpaid carers and local health, social care, and voluntary sector organisations in Derbyshire.  It provides reliable, relevant, local, up to date information about support and services for Carers. It offers a Carers Directory, information about Carers Rights and where to get help as well as lots of information about how to look after yourself www.carersinderbyshire.org.uk

Mobilise are an online service providing help and support which aims to make the lives of family carers easier, less lonely, and frustrating. Mobilise provide a range of free online support including information and advice and the chance to connect with other carers through a closed Facebook group or via daily virtual 'cuppas'. You can visit Mobilise www.mobiliseonline.co.uk, read about their online support for unpaid carers in Derbyshire and subscribe if you'd like to find out more.

Carers UK is a national charity whose mission is to support and make life better for carers. There is a wealth of information and advice available online.  Telephone 0808 808 7777, email advice@carersuk.org or go to www.carersuk.org

Call the Carers Direct helpline (part of Carers UK) on 0300 123 1053 if you need help with your caring role.  They provide free, confidential information and guidance on a number of topics and carers can also email queries to helpline advisers.