How to Access
You can access Sharing the Caring in 3 different ways:
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- Through Funding from the Local Authority (for those carers who are eligible)
- By using a Direct Payment
- By self funding
Funding through the Local Authority
You can refer yourself to Social Services and ask about a carers’ assessment or contact the Carers Centre and a member of staff can make a referral on your behalf to Social Services.
A social worker will complete a carers’ assessment with you which will find out if you are eligible for carer respite services.
If you are eligible the social worker will tell you how much carer respite (breaks) you are entitled to.
You can then choose who will provide these breaks to you and the person you are caring for.
If you would like Sharing the Caring to provide your breaks you will need to tell the social worker this following your assessment.
The social worker will then contact us to tell us how much respite time you have been allocated, we will then arrange to meet with you to discuss when and how you would like the service to be delivered.
Using Direct Payments
You can refer yourself to Social Services and ask about a carers’ assessment or contact the Carers Centre and a member of staff can make a referral on your behalf to Social Services.
A social worker will complete a carers’ assessment with you which will find out if you are eligible for carer respite services.
If you are eligible the social worker will discuss with you the amount of money the Local Authority can pay for respite services for you.
You can then decide to have this money paid to a bank account in your name. You then manage this money yourself and pay Sharing the Caring for the number of breaks you have.
Please contact the centre for further information and prices.
Self funding
You can pay for the Sharing the Caring privately, please contact the service for further information and prices.
If you would like further information on any of the ways to access Sharing the Caring or for further information about the service please contact North Tyneside Carers Centre.
