If you look after someone who couldn’t manage without your help, you may be an unpaid carer.   

Our practice is working with Devon Carers to ensure all unpaid carers registered with our surgery receive the best information, advice and support available to them. 

• Do you look after someone?
• Do they have a medical condition, mental health illness or drug/alcohol addiction?
• Would they struggle to cope without your support? 

If yes – you are an unpaid carer! 

It is important that we know if you are a carer so that we can make sure you receive information, services and the help that is available. If you are a carer please let us know by calling the practice or submitting an administrative request - please make sure you also include the details of who you care for.

We recommend that you register with Devon Carers. This is a service delivered by Devon-based charity Westbank and is commissioned jointly by Devon County Council and NHS Devon. 

Devon Carers supports unpaid carers with the opportunity to access information, advice, and services such as: 

• Peer Support groups
• Carers skills workshops  
• Carers Break Fund
• Carers Assessment
• Carer Friendly Devon
• Quarterly magazine
• Helpline
• Help with planning for an emergency 
• Carers Passport with Carers ID card

To register with Devon Carers:

Online: Register for support - Devon Carers 
Helpline: 03456 434 435 

Or ask a member of our staff, who will be able to make a referral on your behalf. 

Young Carers

A young carer is someone under 18 who provides care for another person, unless they are doing so as paid employment or as voluntary work.

You can register a young carer here on the Devon County Council website.

There is a wealth of information on NHS Choices about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.

• Caring for a parent

  Watch this video on: caring for a parent at home

• Telling people

  Caring responsibilities can make it difficult to maintain friendships or develop new ones. Telling your friends you're a carer is important so they understand and can support you.

• Taking a break

  Caring for someone can be a full-time job, but it's essential that you take time out for yourself too. Read our guide to accessing breaks and respite.

• Housing and carers

  Do you know your tenancy rights as a carer? Are you aware of all your care at home options? Do you need tips on moving someone around the home?

Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.

• Benefits for carers

  Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role

• Benefits for the person you care for

  Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to

• Death and benefits

  How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits

• Managing someone's legal affairs

  Advice for when carers find they have to take over the legal affairs of the person they are looking after

• Other benefits

  Advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring

• Personal and household finance

  Advice on keeping a tight rein on household and personal finance for carers

• Social fund

   

• Tax credits

  Information on claiming tax credits and whether you might be eligible