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Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space (MHCBS)

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Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space (MHCBS)

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Giving patients in crisis a break from a problem Debt.

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Get Debt Relief with Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space

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Struggling with debt during a mental health crisis? The Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space can help freeze interest, stop creditor calls, and provide free debt advice.

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Family & Friend Carers Confidentiality Policy

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Family & Friend Carers Confidentiality Policy

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Carers play an important role in many service users’ lives. Their knowledge and expertise represent an enormous resource for statutory sector mental health services. Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (the Trust) is committed to the key standards in the Carers Trust Triangle of Care model for carer inclusion and support and this involves a specific commitment to developing policy and practice protocols regarding confidentiality and sharing information.

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Family & Friend Carers Confidentiality Leaflet

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Family & Friend Carers Confidentiality Leaflet

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The Association of Carers provides free, volunteer-led support services to unpaid carers in East Sussex.

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A Carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This can be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems.

The Association of Carers provides free, volunteer-led support services to unpaid Carers in East Sussex.

Carers save the economy £132 billion per year

3 in 5 people will become a Carer at some point in their lives

1 in 8 adults in the UK are currently looking after someone without pay

There are over 62,000 unpaid Carers in East Sussex

Of these over 13,000 are providing 50 or more hours of unpaid care a week

(Statistics taken from East Sussex in Figures, using data from the 2011 Census)

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A Carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This can be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems. The Association of Carers provides free, volunteer-led support services to unpaid Carers in East Sussex.

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The Meriden Family Programme is a training & organisational development programme, which has been promoting the development of familyysensitive mentaal health services since 1998.

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Meriden Family Programme - Meriden Family Programme

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We provide training courses for healthcare professionals specialising in behavioural family therapy.

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NHS in Sussex sets out strategic and operational priorities

The NHS across Sussex has set out the immediate and long-term priorities for improvement to health services for local people.

Health and care services across the whole country have been under increasing pressure for many years due to growing numbers of people needing to use them. This winter has been one of the most challenging for the NHS and this has meant not everyone has received the right care, at the right time, or in the right place for their needs over recent months.

A lot of work has taken place across services to manage the pressures and ensure local people continue to receive safe and high-quality care. Additional measures were put in place across Sussex health and care organisations over the very busy New Year period which helped ease some of the pressure.

However, services are expected to remain very busy and more long-standing changes and improvements need to be made to make sure the pressures being seen today do not become the norm or get worse.

Your choices for treatment

The NHS Constitution sets out when you have a legal right to choice about treatment and care in the NHS.

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The NHS across Sussex has set out the immediate and long-term priorities for improvement to health services for local people. Health and care services across the whole country have been under increasing pressure for many years due to growing numbers of people needing to use them.

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From 1st July 2025, The Advocacy People will become the new provider of independent advocacy services for people accessing social care and mental health services.

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We are the advocacy people

As an independent charity, all of the services we provide are free and confidential .

We all know how hard it can be when we don't feel listened to, when what's important to us isn't taken seriously by others, or we just don't have the words to say what we really feel or want.

It can be even more difficult when decisions are being made about our health and social welfare.

We're The Advocacy People and we can help. We'll take time to understand your situation, explore the options and help you decide what you want to do and how you want to do it. We can give you as much or as little support as you want to put your views across.

We won't judge you, tell you what to do or take over things when you can do them yourself: it's your life and you deserve to be heard.

The areas in which we currently provide services are shown on the map below. Click on any highlighted area on the map to see which services we provide in that area.

For an alternative list of areas we provide services in, click here.

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We are The Advocacy People, a charity which helps you in accessing mental health services, nhs complaints or social care services.

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SWAN (South West Advocacy Network) - East Sussex support

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SWAN (South West Advocacy Network) - East Sussex support

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As of the 1st of April 2025 we provide our new advocacy service in East Sussex. This service offers:

Care Act Advocacy (Adults)

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (Adults)

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (Children & Young People)

Specialist Children’s Advocacy

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East Sussex - South West Advocacy Network

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Changing Lives in East Sussex As of the 1st of April 2025 we provide our new advocacy service in East Sussex. This service offers: Care Act Advocacy (Adults) Independent Mental Health Advocacy (Adults) Independent Mental Health Advocacy (Children & Young People) Specialist Children’s Advocacy For any enquiries, please email eastsussex@swanadvocacy.org.uk or call us on 0800

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A non profit organisation dedicated to supporting the unpaid carers of people living with Dementia in East Sussex

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Information and support for parents and guardians.

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Our Time is the only UK Charity dedicated to improving the outcomes for children growing up with a parent with a mental illness.

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Our pharmacy team work closely with medical, nursing and all healthcare professionals to ensure that medicines are used safely, appropriately and effectively as part of treatment care plans for patients whilst they are in hospital, as well as in the community.

They can support you with your medicines and provide expert information and advice regarding all aspects of medicine use.

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Our pharmacy team work closely with medical, nursing and all healthcare professionals to ensure that medicines are used safely, appropriately and effectively as part of treatment care plans for patients whilst they are in hospital, as well as in the community.

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Free workshops for parents and carers

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Self Harm Learning Networks Parents 25-26

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Carer Handbook Information for Carers, Families and Friends.

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The Helpline for male victims of domestic violence

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This factsheet explains what a non-molestation order is, how it can protect victims of domestic abuse, and how to apply for one.

Men's Advice Line evaluation survey

Have you spoken to our Advisors? Tell us about your experience

Take our survey

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Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men | Men's Advice Line UK

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The Men's Advice Line is for male victims of domestic abuse. We offer confidential advice, non-judgmental support, practical information and help

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The Survivor's Handbook provides practical support & information for women experiencing domestic abuse with simple guidance on every aspect of seeking support.

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Talking therapies, or psychological therapies, are effective and confidential treatments delivered by fully trained and accredited practitioners. They can help if you're struggling with things like feelings of depression, excessive worry, social anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

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How to access free psychological therapies (talking therapies) like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling and guided self-help on the NHS.

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All courses are free for adults with mental-health related challenges, their supporters (relatives and carers) living in Sussex.

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Sussex Recovery College | Mental Health & Recovery Courses

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Sussex Recovery College offers educational courses that focus on mental health and recovery to help increase your knowledge and promote self-management.

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Our respite service enables unpaid carers to take time off, with the peace of mind that the person who needs care is safe and supported.

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Our respite service enables unpaid carers to take time off, with the peace of mind that the person who needs care is safe and supported.
Jump to section:

Respite for carers

Are you a carer who's feeling tired or worn out? Do you need some time off from caring to focus on other aspects of life?

Our respite service is here to help.

Respite care enables unpaid carers to take breaks when needed. Our service involves professional care staff who provide support for small periods of time - so that unpaid carers can take breaks.

We work across West Sussex to provide this service, working for periods spanning a few hours, days or even weeks if needed.

Our respite care can be provided to adults and children.

The care we provide is personalised to meet individual needs and can include things such as:

personal care (including looking after medication)

specialist assistance (such as helping with cooking, gardening, hobbies or clerical work)

Emergency respite

Many carers worry about what would happen to the person they care for in an emergency. For instance, the carer might be taken ill suddenly, or be called away for work or other urgent family issues.

In such circumstances, TuVida can provide emergency respite care for a temporary period of time.

This service can be available for a period of up to 48 hours, or up to 72 hours if the emergency falls over a weekend or a bank holiday.

Funding and eligibility

To be eligible for our respite services, the carer must be providing regular and necessary care for an adult who:

is frail or has an illness, disability, sensory impairment or dementia

lives at home in West Sussex

Our respite service is self-funded and provided at an hourly charge. Sessions are available in slots of two hours or more.

Subsidised services may be available for six hours of respite care per week plus a 10 hour night sit once weekly. For eligibility details, please contact us.

Our emergency respite service is funded entirely by West Sussex County Council - meaning there is no associated cost to carers. The service is available subject to staff availability and funding, according to the terms of the contract with West Sussex County Council. For availability, please contact us.

The emergency respite service is not intended for daily respite care, short breaks, non-emergency situations such as social occasions or hobbies or as replacement care when a home care provider has not turned up. In such circumstances we may be able to provide a regular respite service at an hourly charge instead.

Contact us

Telephone: 01903 790 270

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Our respite service enables unpaid carers to take time off, with the peace of mind that the person who needs care is safe and supported. Jump to section: Are you a carer who's feeling tired or worn out? Do you need some time off from caring to focus on other aspects of life?

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Amaze - Parent Support groups and befriending

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Amaze - Parent Support groups and befriending

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We run regular, informal support groups across Brighton & Hove and East Sussex for parents of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). We also offer one-to-one befriending for those parents who need more individual support.

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Our parent groups and befriending are for families with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Sussex.

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Samaritans works to make sure there's always someone there for anyone who needs someone. Read more.

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The Suicide Prevention Team rely on volunteers who believe that every person deserves care, compassion and empathy in their time of need. They help people whoever they are, and whatever their situation, with a non-judgemental approach.

Our volunteers come from a whole range of backgrounds, from gardeners to social care, chefs and IT. An understanding of mental health goes a long way in supporting others if they are struggling.
How We Work:
Suicide Prevention UK works closely with other organisations to be able to signpost to the most relevant support for individuals in their time of need.

We have various volunteer positions to suit, including call handlers for our helpline, team members for our active patrols and help with our fundraising team.
What Difference Does it Make?
SP-UK make a really positive impact on people's lives and mental wellbeing. Individuals get the chance to see that they are not alone and that there is support out there. We take the time to listen and help in a potentially life-threatening crisis. In turn, our interventions can massively reduce the workload of the emergency services.

Our volunteers get a huge sense of achievement, due to the fact they are helping the most vulnerable people in their times of need. Our volunteers are a huge credit to the charity and beyond.
Volunteer Resources:
SP-UK is committed to supporting it's volunteers to enable them to undertake their roles safely and effectively.

We do this by providing a comprehensive recruitment process, high quality training, a volunteer pack with advice and guidance, and ensuring volunteers have access to support themselves should they need it.

The best way to join us is by messaging the page on our Facebook and an admin will get back to you.

Please visit our Facebook here:
Suicide Prevention UK - Charity | Facebook

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SPUK -Suicide Prevention UK is an award winning suicide prevention charity

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The Suicide Prevention Team rely on volunteers who believe that every person deserves care, compassion and empathy in their time of need. They help people whoever they are, and whatever their situation, with a non-judgemental approach. Our volunteers come from a whole range of backgrounds, from gardeners to social care, chefs and IT.

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Grassroots Suicide Prevention | Educating, Connecting, Campaigning

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We are Grassroots Suicide Prevention. We empower people to help save lives from suicide through connecting, educating, and campaigning nationally. ​ Read More...

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Where to get help if you are having suicidal thoughts, and what to do if you are worried about someone else.

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Getting a carer’s assessment could be the first step to gaining vital support. It’s your chance to discuss the help you need as a carer. Find out how it could make life easier for you and the person you care for.

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Why have a carer's assessment?

Getting a carer's assessment could be the first step to gaining vital support. It's your chance to discuss the help you need as a carer. Find out how it could make life easier for you and the person you care for.

In Scotland, this is usually referred to as an adult carer support plan and in Wales, it is often called a carer's needs assessment. For ease of reference, we will use the term 'carer's assessment'.

See below for answers to common questions

Don't be put off by the word 'assessment' - it's certainly not a test of your abilities as a carer. It's a chance to let your local council or trust know how your caring responsibilities affect you physically and emotionally. They will use the assessment to find out what support you need, whether you're willing or able to carry on caring, what you want to achieve in your daily life and whether you qualify for help.

Most assessments are carried out face to face, although some local councils or trusts offer the option to have the assessment online or over the phone. It should be done at a time and place that is convenient for you.

Some local care centres will also carry out carers' assessments - it's worth checking with your local carers organisation.

If you're over 18 and provide regular unpaid care for someone, you're entitled to a carer's assessment. It doesn't matter how much or what sort of care you provide. For more details, see our 'Assessments' factsheets (
England, NI, Scotland and Wales).

A carer's assessment is different from a needs assessment, which is for the person you are caring for. You can have them both done at the same time if you want. You're entitled to a carer's assessment whether or not the person you care for has had a needs assessment.

If you're under 18

If you're younger than 18, you can benefit from some extra support and have certain legal rights to help you.

You can request support from your local authority or local Health and Social Care Trust (in Northern Ireland).

We have more guidance on this page ' Support for young carers' and you can also contact Carers Trust who have specialist support services for younger carers in partnership with local charities. Find out more on their online page for younger carers.

Contact adult social services at your local council or trust (in Northern Ireland). If the person you care for lives in another area, contact their local council or trust instead (except in Wales, where you should still contact your own local council).

If you're a carer for your child, contact the children with disabilities department.

The assessment will last at least an hour. You can ask to have someone with you such as the person you care for, a friend or relative.

Collect all the relevant information you'll need: Things to think about beforehand

your NHS number

your GP's name, address and phone number details

your email address

contact details of anyone coming to the assessment with you

details of the person you care for including their name, address, date of birth and NHS number.

Make a list of the different ways you are providing support, such as offering emotional support, managing finances, helping someone with practical activities such as shopping, ensuring someone is safe from harm, or helping with personal needs such as using the bathroom.

Consider how caring affects your life. Does it leave enough time for you? Does it affect your emotional wellbeing - for example, do you often feel drained or lonely? Does it affect you physically - for example, do you lose sleep or get back ache from lifting someone regularly? Has it affected your work, social life or education?

If the person you care for will be present at the assessment, will you be able to speak freely about any difficulties you have?

The assessor will discuss how caring affects your life, including your physical, mental and emotional needs. They should cover:

your role as a carer

how you feel about caring

whether you're able or willing to carry on as a carer

your health

other caring responsibilities

what you enjoy doing in your free time

planning for emergencies.

Be honest and realistic about your caring role. If you put on a brave face or play down any difficulties, you could miss out on help and support.

Your local council or trust will work out whether your needs are eligible for support. If so, they will create a support plan for you. They might provide you with care and support directly, or provide it to the person you care for.

If you're not eligible for support, they must still give you information and advice on where you can go for help.

There are lots of different types of support you could be entitled to, including:

practical help with housework or gardening jobs

training to help you with your caring role, for example in moving and handling the person you care for

equipment or alterations to your home

emotional support such as counselling

breaks from caring, such as respite care for the person you care for

advice about benefits

support to improve your wellbeing, such as access to exercise classes, social activities or adult education.

Will I have to pay?
Councils are advised not to charge carers for support provided to them, but some will give you a financial assessment to work out what you can afford to pay. They should never charge for care and support provided for the person you care for. See our factsheet for more information about this ( England, NI, Scotland and Wales).

If you disagree with the decision following your assessment, there are ways to challenge it. See our guidance on making complaints
here.

Even if your council or trust claim they can't give you financial or practical support at the moment, they must still provide you with guidance and information to look after your health, welfare and overall wellbeing and to prevent you from developing support needs in the future.

If the person you are looking after is an adult and appears to have a need for support, they should be offered a needs authority by the adult social services team.

They can have an assessment no matter what their financial situation or level of need is. You can also be involved as their carer if they are happy with this option. See our 'Having a needs assessment' guidance for more information.

Our tips sheet may be helpful as a starting point if you are unsure where to start with regard to arranging a carer's assessment.

Got a question about caring?

Every day we hear from people who need help with looking after a friend or family member

Become a member for free

Joining Carers UK is free and takes just a few minutes.

Back to top

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Getting a carer's assessment could be the first step to gaining vital support. It's your chance to discuss the help you need as a carer. Find out how it could make life easier for you and the person you care for.

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Caring for someone with a terminal illness

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Caring for someone with a terminal illness

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Caring for a friend or family member with a terminal illness can be both rewarding and challenging. Our information can help you know what to expect – from day-to-day caring to looking after your own needs.

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Caring for a friend or family member with a terminal illness can be both rewarding and challenging. Our information can help you know what to expect - from day-to-day caring to looking after your own needs.

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Caring for someone with a terminal illness

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Caring for a friend or family member with a terminal illness can be both rewarding and challenging. Our information can help you know what to expect - from day-to-day caring to looking after your own needs.

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Rethink Worthing Mental Health Carers Group

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Open to: Carers

The Group meets monthly on the 3rd Monday of Month. Time: 19:00- 21:00

Group Coordinator: _

We are a peer-led support group for the carers, family members and friends of people with lived experience of mental illness. We also welcome people living with mental illness who wish to attend, as both sets of people share similar issues. Every month, we try to arrange for a guest speaker to talk to the group about their specialist area but always leave time for people to share concerns and receive support.

This website uses cookies to give you the best experience.
We care about your privacy

Read our updatedprivacy policy and cookies policy

Accept all mandatory cookies

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Rethink Worthing Mental Health Carers Group

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Open to: Carers The Group meets monthly on the 3rd Monday of Month. Time: 19:00- 21:00 Group Coordinator: _ We are a peer-led support group for the carers, family members and friends of people with lived experience of mental illness. We also welcome people living with mental illness who wish to attend, as both sets of people share similar issues.

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We have worked with health professionals at Nutricia to produce resources to help. These free online nutrition guides have been produced with support from Nutricia, who develop nutritional health products to help people live longer healthier lives.

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Helping you care for someone's nutritional needs

What are the right foods and drinks to prepare for someone you care for and how should you provide them? This can be challenging especially when they have specialist needs.

We have worked with health professionals at Nutricia to produce resources to help. These free online nutrition guides have been produced with support from Nutricia, who develop nutritional health products to help people live longer healthier lives.

Eating well and good nutrition

We all know that what you eat and drinks plays a huge role in your health and wellbeing. But knowing exactly what to prepare for someone you care for can be confusing, especially if they have complex medical needs. For example, they may have lost their sense of taste or have difficulty swallowing or digesting certain foods.

Carers UK has teamed up with nutrition company, Nutricia to support you with these challenges. These resources, offering dietary tips and insights, cover a wide range of conditions.

Downloadable guides to help

Sometimes, the condition someone has will determine what type of nutrition is best for them. Using the links below, you can download free copies of Carers UK and Nutricia information leaflets on managing caring and nutrition:

View this video for a nutrition professional's guidance

Becky from Nutricia focuses on nutrition and caring - examining how to stay healthy as a carer. She also offers guidance on nutrition during illness. Watch the video.

Information guides for you to download

Got a question about caring?

Every day we hear from people who need help with looking after a friend or family member

Become a member for free

Joining Carers UK is free and takes just a few minutes.

Back to top

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The importance of good nutrition | Carers UK

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Helping you care for someone's nutritional needs What are the right foods and drinks to prepare for someone you care for and how should you provide them? This can be challenging especially when they have specialist needs. We have worked with health professionals at Nutricia to produce resources to help.

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For all your heart health questions, big or small.

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Volunteering with us can help you build new skills and make new friends. You can volunteer in our shops, at one of our events, or as part of a fundraising group.

Find the volunteering role for you

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With your donations, we harness the power of science to take on the world's biggest killers. And together, we give people more time with the ones they love.

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Our PALS team are here to help when you need advice, have concerns or don’t know where to turn.

As a patient, relative or carer, sometimes you may need to turn to someone for help, advice and support – this is where PALS can help.

PALS is a confidential advice and support service that can help you sort out any concerns that you may have about any aspect of your or your loved one's care.

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Skip to main content Skip to accessibility tools

Contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS)
Our PALS team are here to help when you need advice, have concerns or don't know where to turn.
As a patient, relative or carer, sometimes you may need to turn to someone for help, advice and support - this is where PALS can help.

PALS is a confidential advice and support service that can help you sort out any concerns that you may have about any aspect of your or your loved one's care.

PALS can:

Listen to you and talk to staff on your behalf to try to resolve any concerns, issues, problems or difficulties

Provide information about the service we provide and about the NHS

Signpost you to other support organisations who can help

Listen to your suggestions and comments, provide support and take-action to improve our services

Learn from your positive experience and share compliments with those involved

Listen to your concerns, suggestions or queries

Help sort out problems quickly on your behalf.

We want to make it easy for you to talk to us so that we can understand your experience of our services, and identify where changes or improvements are needed, and try to put things right as quickly as possible.

If you have a concern or comment the first step is to contact the person you know from the service you are using and tell them what the problem is. They can usually address any concerns you have quickly.

You can also ask a member of staff to get in touch with PALS on your behalf. Or you can approach us directly.

We can provide information and work with you to solve any problems you're having accessing or using our services.

We will listen and work with you to find the best solution to your problem. If we can't answer your questions or resolve your concern we will know someone who can.

We act independently when handling patient and family concerns, liaising with staff, managers and, where appropriate, relevant organisations, to get solutions as quickly as possible.

Tell us what's gone well

It's vital we're made aware of when things have gone well, so we can promote examples of good practice and share them with other teams and services. In any service, there is always scope for improvements. We welcome any comments, suggestions or compliments you may have to help us improve our services and keep doing the things that we're doing well.

Complete the Sussex Experience Survey

The Sussex Experience Survey is quick and easy to complete as it just asks one question about your experience of using our services, with an option to provide further feedback if you want to. Complete the survey.

Tell us what could be better

If you would like to make a complaint about any aspect of your, or someone elses' care, please contact PALS. Unfortunately, sometimes things can go wrong. It is important that we know about this. This is so we can try to put things right, work with you, and stop the same thing from going wrong again in the future.

Complete the Sussex Experience Survey

The Sussex Experience Survey is quick and easy to complete as it just asks one question about your experience of using our services, with an option to provide further feedback if you want to. Complete the survey.

Call: 0300 304 2198

Address

Patient Advice and Liaison Service
Swandean
Arundel Road
Worthing
West Sussex
BN13 3EP

PALS are available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. If there's no one available to take your call or it's outside of these hours, you can leave a confidential message and the team will contact you as soon as possible.

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Sussex Partnership Patient Advice and Liaison service (PALS) is here when you want to share a compliment or make a complaint. We're here when you need advice or when you don't know where to turn.

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Do you care for someone who could not manage with your support? A friend, partner, family member, or perhaps a neighbour?

Then our free 6-week WRAP Course for Carers has a welcoming space for you. Join other carers to focus on your wellbeing in a supportive group.

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Do you care for someone who could not manage with your support? A friend, partner, family member, or perhaps a neighbour? Then our free 6-week WRAP Course for Carers has a welcoming space for you. Join other carers to focus on your wellbeing in a supportive group.

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Caring for People with Psychosis and Schizophrenia

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Caring for People with Psychosis and Schizophrenia

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Caring for People with Psychosis and Schizophrenia - On

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Explore the key issues related to caring for a relative with psychosis or schizophrenia, with this short, free online course.

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All courses are free for adults with mental health-related challenges, their supporters (relatives and carers) living in Sussex.

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Sussex Recovery College | Mental Health & Recovery Courses

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Sussex Recovery College offers educational courses that focus on mental health and recovery to help increase your knowledge and promote self-management.

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Caring for adults is an introductory course for anyone in a caring role, either paid or unpaid. It builds on what you already know to give you a better understanding of your role as a carer. It also supports your own well-being by giving you some ideas and information about looking after yourself and dealing with stress.

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About this course

Sign up to get more

You can start learning at any time. By signing up and enrolling you can track your progress and earn a Statement of Participation upon completion, all for free.
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General

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Caring for adults is an introductory course for anyone in a caring role, either paid or unpaid. It builds on what you already know to give you a better understanding of your role as a carer. It also supports your own well-being by giving you some ideas and information about looking after yourself and dealing with stress.

This course is free and you are welcome to study it without enrolling. However, the course gives you the opportunity to earn digital badges as a recognition of your learning. To collect these badges you'll need to enrol. If you already have an Open University account, you need to sign in before you enrol. Otherwise, it's easy to create an account. [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab.] Once you've signed in, return to this page and click on the 'Enrol' button above.

To see the other courses in this series please visit the Social Partnerships Network (SPN) courses home page.

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Gain digital badges

By studying the course you will have the opportunity to gain digital badges - you need to click on the 'Enrol' button to be able to do the quizzes and earn the badge.

This course is part of a collection

This course is part of a collection of courses called Social Partnerships Network courses. There are 6 courses in this collection so you may find other courses here that maybe of interest to you.
See this collection

1. Describe the role and responsibilities of carers.

2. Recognise some of the basic concepts that will enable a person-centred approach to care.

3. Identify the different needs of a cared-for person, at different stages of their care.

4. Understand the impact that caring may have upon carers, and how this might be managed.

5. Explain some of the legal responsibilities within the caring role.

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Course content

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You can start learning at any time. By signing up and enrolling you can track your progress and earn a Statement of Participation upon completion, all for free. View this course Sign up to get more © Solstock/iStockphoto.com Caring for adults is an introductory course for anyone in a caring role, either paid or unpaid.

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You might find that studying online is easier to fit in around caring than a classroom based course. Have a look at these online courses, some of them are just for carers and many of them are free.

Physical activity for health and wellbeing in the caring role

This free course, endorsed by Carers Trust, is delivered by the Open University It gives an insight into the demands of caring and looks at how taking part in physical activity can offer benefits to the health and wellbeing of unpaid carers.

Courses to help you if you are caring for someone with dementia

There are courses specially for carers who look after someone with dementia, see online training for dementia carers.

Courses to help you build your confidence in caring

Your local carers services may run sessions or groups that can build your confidence and help you cope with your caring role.

Find your local carer service

Caring for adults

Caring for adults is an introductory course for anyone in a caring role, either paid or unpaid. It builds on what you already know to give you a better understanding of your role as a carer. It also supports your own wellbeing by giving you some ideas and information about looking after yourself and dealing with stress.

The course is delivered by OpenLearn and is free.

Find out more about the Caring for adults course on the OpenLearn website.

This course is one of six free online courses from the Social Partnerships Network.

What about me? A personal development course for carers in Wales

This free course will help you to identify and reflect on your experiences, interests, skills and your future aspirations.

Find out more on What about me? A personal development course for carers in Wales.

The course is available in Welsh and English. It was developed by The Open University in Wales and Carers Trust Wales, and it includes case studies from carers sharing their experiences and reflections.

Digital courses - using computers, tablets, the internet, social media and mobile phones

Find lots of free courses on TechBoomers.

Learn My Way offers free online courses on using a computer, browsing the web, sending an email and finding work online.

Other online courses

OpenLearn and OpenLearn Cymru also offer lots of other free online courses on a wide range of subjects.

Learndirect offers a range of courses, including some free courses.

Future Learn offers free online courses from universities and specialist organisations.

Vision2learn offers a range of free courses if you are 19 or over and live in England.

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You might find that studying online is easier to fit in around caring than a classroom based course. Have a look at these online courses, some of them are just for carers and many of them are free.

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10 ways to look after your mental health

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10 ways to look after your mental health

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provides general information, advice, support and signposting around your caring role if you are caring or help to look after someone with a long-term health need, disability or substance misuse. With our local knowledge of services in Brighton & Hove, we are able to point you in the right direction. Most of the services listed are part of . Those in italics are external services.

Carers Assessment

You have a right to a carer's assessment if you provide, or intend to provide, unpaid support to someone who could not manage without your help. It can be a useful first step in helping you to understand your situation and the needs you may have.

If you would like an assessment, you can request one by completeing the self-referral form.

We will send you an information pack which tells you about services for carers and how to prepare for your carer's assessment. You can preview the pack here. We will then phone you to discuss what support would be helpful for you and to carry out your carer's assessment if you would like to do that. The assessment takes about 30 minutes over the phone.

Carers Card

The Carers Card offers saving and discounts on leisure and well-being activities across Brighton & Hove. The Card is free to all carers looking after someone in Brighton & Hove and is issued following the carer's assessment. If you would like a Carers Card, please complete the self-referral form to request an assessment.

CareLink Plus & Telecare

Technology can help people to live independently and give you peace of mind that the person you care for is safe and well. CareLink can provide you or the person you care for with an alarm that lets you call for help quickly and easily if you fall, feel unwell or need any other urgent assistance. CareLink Plus offer carers a one-month free trial so you and the person you care for can give it a try to see how it could help you in your caring role. Contact CareLink on 0300 123 3301 or email CareLinkPlus@brighton-hove.gov.uk for more information.

Go to the Technology for Carers page for more information.

Carers Reablement Service

This project supports carers, assisted by volunteers, to achieve positive change within their lives through a goals approach to reach clear outcomes, which will improve the health and wellbeing of the carers. The Project will match the skills, experience and knowledge of the volunteer to the specific needs of the carer, for example going to a gym, be able to use a computer, attend a book group, lose weight or learn to cook. Please call on 01273 977 000 or email info@carershub.co.uk if you would like to be matched with a volunteer to meet your need.

Dementia Carers Support

This Service will provide specialist information, support and advice to Carers of people with Dementia. A programme of specialist training will also be provided to address issues such as: Dementia awareness, how to support someone with Dementia, legal and money matters and coping strategies for carers. For more information about this Service please contact on 01273 977 000 or email info@carershub.co.uk.

Emergency Back Up Scheme

Carers often worry about what would happen to the person they care for if they have an accident or are suddenly taken ill. The Emergency Back Up Scheme offers peace of mind by enabling you to set up a plan to include up to three people who could provide support in an emergency.

End of Life

This Service provides specific support for carers of people with a range of life-limiting health conditions and bereaved carers, through the provision of one to one support and group or activity events. The Service will also provide support for bereaved carers with the addition of signposting or introduction of specialist bereavement services within the City. Please call on 01273 977 000 or email info@carershub.co.uk for more information.

Dying Matters - Caring for someone who is dying can be exhausting and highly emotional. It is essential for carers to find time for themselves and pay attention to their health and welfare.

Mental Health

Changes Ahead offers advice and support to carers of people with a mental health condition through information, one-to-one support, training, wellbeing and peer support. Please call on 01273 977 000 or email info@carershub.co.uk if you would like more information

If the person you look after has mental health needs, they may receive support from Sussex Partnership Trust Mental Health Services.

If the person you care for doesn't receive support from Sussex Partnership Trust, they should get in touch with their GP. The GP may be able to help, or refer onto more specialist mental health services if needed.

The Trust can also support carers with their own mental health support needs. Services include the Sussex Mental Healthline.

The Recovery College offers free educational courses about mental health and recovery which are designed to increase your knowledge and skills and promote self management. They also run some courses specifically for carers.

Also, Community Roots are a network of local services providing mental health and wellbeing support.

My Health Matters

When you are busy looking after someone else, it can be easy to forget about your own health. This Service will provide support to the person you care for whilst you attend your health appointments. You can also use this Service to attend training or courses that will help you in your caring role, such as counselling or first aid training. You can use the Service if you want to join the Health Walks around the City. Please call on 01273 977 000 or email info@carershub.co.uk for more information.

Online Help

The internet is full of information, support and discussion forums relating to carers. It can also help to make some caring tasks easier. There are lots of different apps available that can help you to make the most of technology and this includes using apps to help with your caring role. Many apps are free or very cheap but make sure you check before you download.

JOINTLY App is an app that makes caring for someone a little easier, less stressful and a lot more organised by making communication and co-ordination between those who share the care as easy as a text message. Download it for free using the code: BHCC_JT75.

Carers UK Digital Resources. The local council has teamed up with Carers UK, a national organisation to give carers in Brighton & Hove free access to a wide range of digital tools, such as online learning, and essential resources that may help make their caring situation easier. Visit this site and sign up for free.

Parent Carers

Support for parent carers is available from Amaze. They can also register parents of disabled children to receive a Compass Card and provide information about joining the Parent Carers Council (PACC).

Peer Support

Getting support from their peer is vital for most carers. Locality based monthly Carer Peer Support Groups are available and can be found on the Event page. Please call on 01273 977 000 or email info@carershub.co.uk for more information.

Primary Care

Your GP (General Practitioner) and primary care team can provide you with invaluable support, advice and information. Primary Care provision consists of much more than your GP. You can speak with a Health Care Adviser or practice nurse as well as your GP about being registered as a Carer, as well as the reception team who can provide you with information.

There are many services that can support you in your caring role and in looking after your own health including, if they know you are a Carer and likely to be under pressure at times, they will find it easier to offer the advice and support you need and if necessary diagnose and treat you in the future. Carers of people with serious/chronic health conditions or who are frail may also qualify for an annual flu vaccination. Ask your GP or practice for more information.

Your GP may be able to help you as a Carer by providing information and advice on:

Medical conditions of and treatments for the person you care for to help you feel more confident in your caring role

Services provided by the NHS, such as continence services and patient transport to hospital appointments

Other sources of support and advice. This could include the Social Services Department and local voluntary agencies

Carrying out home visits to you or the person you care for if your caring responsibilities make it difficult to attend appointments at the surgery

Arranging appointments for both you and the person you care for at the same time to avoid having to visit the surgery twice.

Arranging for repeat prescriptions to be delivered to your local pharmacy to save you picking them up

Sibling Link is a free peer support group for anyone over 18 with a brother or sister who has struggled or is struggling with mental illness. They also run a Walk & Talk for anyone - not limited to siblings - bereaved by suicide. Their website www.siblinglink.co.uk is there for people to share stories and for you find out about local events and support. Contact them via info@siblinglink.co.uk

Working and Caring

Continuing to work whilst caring can help you to have a better balance in your life and provide you with social interaction outside of your caring role. But staying in work or returning to work can be daunting; you may find it helpful to talk to your employer about taking some time off or working flexibly.

Many carers consider giving up work but it is important to understand the implications this could have on your income, quality of life and future pension entitlements. If you find it difficult to balance working and caring, or you would like to consider returning to work, a carer's assessment can be a helpful step in looking at what support you might need. Please call on 01273 977 000 or email info@carershub.co.uk for more information.

About Me: Building Reliance for Caring is a great E-learning resource for Working Carers. You can get access to the resource by signing up to Carers UK Digital Resources.

Other Resources
Carers Information Booklet Carers Trust Carers UK Digital Resources

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provides general information, advice, support and signposting around your caring role if you are caring or help to look after someone with a long-term health need, disability or substance misuse. With our local knowledge of services in Brighton & Hove, we are able to point you in the right direction.

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Apply for an East Sussex Carers Card | Care For The Carers

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Identifies you as a carer, and that someone depends on you in an emergency The option to connect to a back-up respite plan A discount card, giving carers savings at businesses across East Sussex. Many carers worry about what would happen to the person they care for if they were to have an accident themselves, or were suddenly taken ill.

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Create a contingency plan in advance with a Carers Emergency Contact Card to receive the support and assistance during an emergency.

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The Parent Carers' Council is a forum for parent carers of children with additional needs who work to improve services and support.

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We are the new forum for parent carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in East Sussex.

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Placing the views of all parent carers at the heart of decision making. We are the new forum for parent carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in East Sussex. Become a Member About Us We work together to ensure every parent carer in East Sussex feels that their ... Read more

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WSPCF is an independent charity for the parent carers of children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

We support parent carers by providing information, signposting, and training that equips them in their lifelong caring role and empowers them to participate in shaping services for their children and young people.

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West Sussex Parent Carer Forum | Information | Training

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West Sussex Parent Carer Forum is a charity for the parent carers of children & young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs / disabilities (SEND).

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The Sussex Advocacy Partnership provides a range of statutory and non-statutory advocacy services to the residents of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex. The Partnership consists of POhWER, Mind in Brighton and Hove, MindOut, Brighton & Hove Speak Out, Sussex Interpreting Services and Impact Advocacy.

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The Sussex Advocacy Partnership provides a range of statutory and non-statutory advocacy services to the residents of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex. The Partnership consists of POhWER, Mind in Brighton and Hove, MindOut, Brighton & Hove Speak Out, Sussex Interpreting Services and Im

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Our pharmacy team work closely with medical, nursing and all healthcare professionals to ensure that medicines are used safely, appropriately and effectively as part of treatment care plans for patients whilst they are in hospital, as well as in the community.

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Information and advice about medicines and how to contact our pharmacy team

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Advance Statements, Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment & Lasting Power of Attorney

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Advance Statements, Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment & Lasting Power of Attorney

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ADRT Advance Statements LPA - Guidance on a page (Aug 2019)

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Please note that some of the numbers at the back of this booklet in relation to mental health services may have changed.  Please see our website for more up to date information on services provided by Sussex Partnership.

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Improving Carers Experience (ICE) booklet

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Improving Carers Experience (ICE) booklet

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Talk to someone about how you are feeling

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Talk to someone about how you are feeling

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Call NHS 111 option 2 24/7 mental health telephone support and information service.

If you are worried about your mental health or that of a relative or friend, please call NHS 111 option 2. This is a free service for anyone who may be in crisis and in need of help with their mental health.

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If you're struggling with your mental health or are concerned about someone else, here's how to get help. From the following options, please select the one that best describes how you are feeling.
Feeling unable to cope, worried you may hurt yourself or somebody else and/or experiencing suicidal feelings?

For immediate help

For same or next day help

You can get support in different ways depending on what you prefer. All services are free.

Call NHS 111 and select the mental health option or the Samaritans on 116 123 (available 24/7).

Visit a Staying Well service (out-of-hours mental health crisis support service for people aged 18+ available in Brighton, Crawley, Eastbourne, Hastings and Worthing).

Text the word SUSSEX to 85258 (24/7 mental health text-messaging support service).

Download the Stay Alive app - a suicide prevention resource full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis.

Feeling stressed, anxious, low or experiencing panic attacks?

The following are services that you can either contact directly (details below) or be referred by a GP.

NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression

If you live in Sussex, are over 18 and are struggling with common mental health problems like feelings of depression, excessive worry, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), you can refer yourself to your local NHS Talking Therapies service.

Services are free, confidential and provide a wide range of support, including courses, online programmes and one-to-one sessions. They aim to help you understand your symptoms and take practical steps to improve your mental health.

If you are experiencing a severe mental health disorder, please see a GP, who can refer you to the appropriate service.

Mental health support at your GP surgery

If you have a diagnosed mental illness or are having difficulties with your mental health and would like coping strategies to help, you can get support with your mental health from the Emotional Wellbeing Service, or similar service, at most GP surgeries. These services can provide you with information, advice, guidance and support.

Contact your GP surgery to find out what mental health support is available.

Experiencing a significant change in your mental health?

You should call NHS 111 or visit NHS 111 online for advice if you - or the person you are concerned about - experience a significant change in your mental health and are not already receiving care from mental health services.

This might include:

Hearing or seeing things that are not experienced by other people, for example hearing voices

Having strong beliefs that are not shared by others, for example believing there is a conspiracy against you

Having excessive energy or movements, sleeping very little

Behaving in a bizarre and out of character way

Changes in behaviour like wanting to avoid people, lack of basic self-care.

Whilst these can be normal experiences, they can also be signs of something more serious.

Do you currently receive care from one of our services?

If you or the person you are concerned about currently receives care from one of our services, such as a community mental health team, please get in touch with the specialist team as soon as possible. You can refer to the care plan for advice. This will also contain contact details for the team supporting the person in crisis.

Worried about money, housing or another issue that is affecting your mental health?

There are lots of ways you can get practical help with issues that may be affecting your mental health.
If you live in Brighton & Hove If you live in East Sussex If you live in West Sussex
Social Prescribing service at your GP surgery

Social Prescribers can connect you to support, services and activities to help address the challenges and issues you may be struggling with. Ask your GP or GP surgery if they have a Social Prescribing service.

Waiting times differ between GP surgeries.

Where to find advice and information about local mental health support

Not sure what support you need or would like? There are several community-based groups that can support you with your mental health, whether you have a diagnosed mental illness or need short-term help or advice about your mental health. Find out what's available in your area.
If you live in Brighton & Hove If you live in East Sussex If you live in West Sussex

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How to get help if you need help with your mental health

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There are lots of ways that you can get involved at Sussex Partnership.

Our Experts by Experience (EBE's) are valuable members of our team.  They are people who have either used mental health services themselves or who have experience of caring for someone who has.

More formally, our governors play a crucial role in the running of our services. Our governors are made up of service users, carers, staff, members of the public and partner organisations.

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Find out how you can get involved at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust whether through sharing your experience, providing valuable feedback or volunteering within our services.

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A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a family member of friend who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, cannot cope without their support

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Reaching Families is a parent-carer led, grassroots charity which aims to support parents and families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in their daily lives, in particular through the delivery of information, training and peer support.

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special educational needs and disabilities

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Reaching Families - Empowering families of children and young people with SEND in West Sussex

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About SENDIASS SENDIASS stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service. It’s a free, impartial, and confidential service offering information to young people with special educational…

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Supporting older people to live fulfilled and independent lives

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Independent Age supports older people facing financial hardship by offering award-winning information, advice and support.

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1.      Carers and their essential role 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 posts(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 is available

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The Triangle of Care, ToC, Triangle of Care

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The Triangle of Care is a therapeutic alliance between carers, service users and health professionals. Find out more and become a member.

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You can get help and support if you're responsible for looking after someone who has a disability, is getting old or has become ill. This can range from practical help to make day-to-day life easier to benefits like Carer's Allowance.

Am I a carer?

You're probably a carer if all of the following apply:

you do things like helping someone to wash, dress and eat; taking them to regular appointments, doing their shopping or keeping them company

you aren't paid to look after the person you're caring for

you spend a lot of time caring for the person - there's no legal definition of this, but it could mean anything from a few hours a day, to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

you may or may not live with the person you're caring for

If you're a young carer (under 24) you can get local and online support from the Carers Trust.

If you're a parent carer of a child under 18 with complex needs, NHS Choices has information about your rights and the support you can get.

Practical help for carers

Your local council might be able to arrange practical help to allow you to care more effectively and reduce your stress. This could include things like arranging for someone to step in for a while to give you a break or providing some extra support for the person you care for, to give you more time for your other responsibilities.

To see if you can get practical help, you'll need the council to carry out a carer's assessment. All carers are entitled to this.

The carer's assessment looks at how caring affects your life and work, and how you can carry on doing the things that are important to you and your family. A carer's assessment isn't an exam - you won't be judged on whether the care you give is good enough.

Getting a carer's assessment

Contact the social services department of the council covering the area where the person you care for lives. You may be able to do this online through the council's website. Tell them you're a carer and ask them to carry out a carer's assessment for you. You can ask at any time but it's always a good idea to ask for an assessment if your needs change or you need more support.

Find your local council on GOV.UK

What to expect from the carer's assessment

The carer's assessment is normally a face to face meeting with a trained person, either from the council or an organisation it works with. It could be at your home or the home of the person you care for. Alternatively, the assessment might be done over the phone.

In the assessment, you'll discuss things like:

how much time you spend caring for the person

what sort of tasks you need to help them with, such as getting dressed, bathing, shopping, eating or dealing with money

whether carrying out your caring duties leaves you with enough time for your work, family and hobbies

whether any aspects of caring for the person are particularly hard to deal with, for example, do you worry about your own safety when helping them up the stairs

how caring is affecting your physical and mental health

It's up to you whether you want the person you care for to be present.

The council or organisation it works with might send you a questionnaire to fill in before the assessment. If they don't, it's a good idea to spend some time before the assessment thinking about how caring for someone affects your life and what might make things easier for you.

Get more help to prepare for the assessment from Carers UK.

What happens after the assessment

You'll be told if you're eligible for practical help from the council. If you're eligible, the council will explain how it will meet your needs, which could include referring you to other organisations for support.

You can choose to get a direct payment rather than having the services provided to you, if you prefer.

The council has to give you advice and information about other sources of support in your local area, even if you're not eligible for practical help. This could be from local charities or support organisations.

Paying for your practical help

Most councils provide free support to carers, but some may charge for these services. If you're eligible for a service the council charges for, you'll probably be asked to have a financial assessment to see if you can afford to pay towards it. If you can't afford to pay, the council might offer you the service for free or at a reduced rate.

If the council is going to support you by providing some more social care and support services directly to the person you care for, they might also ask to look at that person's finances to see if they should contribute.

Councils follow national guidelines when deciding how much you should contribute towards your care and support needs as a carer. The financial assessment will take into account:

your income, for example a pension

savings

investments

whether you get benefits or other financial support

your expenses, such as utility bills and rent

The council has to leave you with a protected amount of money, to make sure you have enough to live on. This is called the minimum income guarantee and is equivalent to income support or the guarantee credit element of pension credit, plus 25 per cent.

If you're unhappy with the assessment

If you disagree with the outcome of the carer's assessment or you're unhappy with how you've been treated, you can complain to the council. All councils should have a complaints procedure you can follow - ask them for a copy.

Help with money

You may be able to get help to increase your income if your caring duties are affecting your finances.

Depending on your income, assets and living arrangements, you might be able to:

You can get free and impartial help to sort out your finances if you're worried about having enough money to live on and meet your existing commitments. This could include better budgeting, learning how to make your money go further and dealing with debt problems.

Other help for carers

Help from your employer

You don't have to tell your boss about your caring responsibilities, but if you're an employee, your employer must offer you certain legal rights. These include:

the right to ask for flexible working, such as reducing your hours or working from home - anyone has the right to ask for flexible working

time off in emergencies - meaning if the person you care for falls ill, has an accident or is without care unexpectedly, you have the right to take time off work to deal with it

Your employer isn't obliged to offer you more than your legal rights, but some workplaces have policies that might give you more support or time off, for example through applying for a career break. Check with your employer or HR department to find out more.

Support from other carers

You may find it helpful to speak to other people who understand the issues carers can face. Carers UK has details of local support groups and online forums where you can meet other carers like you.

Protection from discrimination

You're protected from discrimination because of your caring responsibilities. This means you can take action if you think you've been treated unfairly because you're a carer. For example, you can't be refused a promotion at work because of your caring responsibilities.

Help for the person you're caring for

Making sure the person you're caring for gets all the social care and support they're entitled to could mean your role as a carer is made easier. They're entitled to get a care needs assessment from the council. Depending on the person's situation they may also be able to:

More information

If you need further help or advice, there are a number of organisations you can contact.

These include:

Carers Direct - which also has a helpline for carers on 0300 123 1053 (Mon-Fri 9am-8pm; Sat and Sun 11am-4pm)

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You can get help and support if you're responsible for looking after someone who has a disability, is getting old or has become ill. This can range from practical help to make day-to-day life easier to benefits like Carer's Allowance.

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Age UK | The UK's leading charity helping every older person who needs us

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Age UK is the leading charity for older people. Visit Age UK today for help, information and advice or to see how you can donate or give support.

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Dementia Carers Count is a UK charity providing information, advice and support to thousands of dementia carers every year. No carer should feel overwhelmed or alone.

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Are you caring for someone with dementia? Discover all you need to know about dementia as well as ways to improve your own wellbeing.

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Providing support to people with dementia and their carers.

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We are the UK’s leading dementia charity, we tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future.

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Welfare, health and support services, for the UK military's serving personnel, veterans and their families.

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Welfare and wellbeing support for serving Armed Forces personnel, veterans, and their families in their time of need, so they never battle alone.

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This directory lists organisations that provide support to veterans of the UK armed forces and their families.

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Find support for veterans and their families

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Find support organisations for veterans of the UK armed forces and their families.

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We need connection whatever our age – especially if we live alone or further away from family. Age UK's Silver Line Helpline gives anyone aged 55 or over the opportunity to exchange a friendly word, access support, or enjoy a long enriching conversation.

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The Silver Line Helpline is a free telephone service just for older people. We provide friendship and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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Carers Trust is a major charity for, with and about carers.

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We're here for unpaid carers with expert information, advice and support, and also campaign to make life better for carers. Find out more

Preparing for the Carer's Leave Act?

It's important that all businesses are ready for the Carer's Leave Act becoming law. Find out how we can help you get prepared.

Become a member

Joining Carers UK is free and takes just a few minutes

You will receive the latest news, information, campaign updates, access to our user forum and more...

Talking to other carers on the forum is great. I've gained so much useful information from Carers UK

Mary from Bedford

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We're here for unpaid carers with expert information, advice & support and also campaign to make life better for carers.

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Amaze is for any family in Brighton & Hove and East Sussex, with any diagnosis, or no diagnosis at all.

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For families with disabled children and young people in Sussex - Amaze

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Amaze is a charity that offers information, advice and support to parents and carers of children and young people with special needs or disabilities in Brighton and Hove.

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Carers Hub Brighton – information & support in Brighton & Hove

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An unpaid carer provides support to a partner, child, relative or friend who couldn’t manage to live independently or whose health or well-being would deteriorate without this help. This could be due to frailty, disability or serious health conditions, mental ill health, or substance misuse.

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An update on response timescales

Due to overwhelming demand for our services, response times will vary. In calling us, please leave a message on our voicemail with your contact details. Our team will endeavour to call back as soon as is practicable.

If you are in need of support urgently, please contact 111/999 in the event of a medical emergency or Adult Carepoint (01243 642121) if you need to raise a safeguarding.

We thank you for your patience.

I am most grateful for the help that you give and feel that I haven't been lost in the system but have been treated with care and consideration.

I found talking to the Response Line worker very reassuring that there was help for me if I needed it which made me feel better and not alone. All the information she gave me has been valuable and has reassured me and put my mind at rest.

I enjoyed my telephone conversation and felt far less stressed at the end of it. I felt that the Response Line worker was empathetic with my situation and listened to all my concerns.

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Carers Support West Sussex | Local Support For Carers

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Increase or Decrease Font Size Due to overwhelming demand for our services, response times will vary. In calling us, please leave a message on our voicemail with your contact details. Our team will endeavour to call back as soon as is practicable.

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The Triangle of Care (ToC) was launched in 2010 by the Carers Trust, developed by family and friend carers of those who had received support from mental health and dementia services.

The Triangle of Care is a working collaboration that includes family and friend carers working with health professionals to improve the care provided. Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) attained membership of the Triangle of Care network in 2017 joining over 30 other mental health providers in the country, showing their commitment to improving relationships with family and friend carers.
Made up of six key standards, Triangle of Care focuses on keeping family and friend carers included, informed and supported when they are caring for an individual with mental health difficulties.

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The temperatures are on the rise, but it is still important people stay warm and well this winter. If you look after a relative, friend or neighbour, we would like to encourage you to focus on your...

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Care for the Carers - Supporting carers in East Sussex

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The temperatures are on the rise, but it is still important people stay warm and well this winter. If you look after a relative, friend or neighbour, we would like to encourage you to focus on your...

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This Padlet has been designed as a resource for family & friend carers, and contains information and resources that will support them in their caring role. Scroll up and down to see more headings. Using the slider on the right scroll to see more resources.