Organisations for CarersThese pages outline a number of other organisations that may be able to help you. For more information and advice ring our free carers helpline on 0800 389 5339.
Advocacy services
If you do not agree with a decision made by Southwark Health and Social Care about the services provided to either you or the person you are caring for, an independent advocacy service may be able to help. Go to our list of free advocacy providers in Southwark.
The advocacy service will discuss with you what you want and then make your case, or advocate, on your behalf. You can also make a formal written complaint to our complaints officer, who will investigate your complaint and give you a reply within 28 days. Go to our comments and complaints page for all the details.
Support organisations for carers
Southwark Carers is an organisation that provides advice and information to carers who live in Southwark. They also provide a counselling service and can put you in touch with local carers'
groups. All their services are free.
Counselling services can help you to cope better with caring for a young person or adult. Caring for someone can be lonely, stressful and difficult. Sometimes talking to a trained counsellor about your feelings and difficulties can help. Free and confidential counselling is available from
Young carers
There are some young people in Southwark who are caring for a parent or another member of their family. Sometimes they are helping out with a younger brother or sister because their mother
or father isn't able to do all they would like to do.
There is a group in Southwark specially set up to help young people who are caring. The group is run by Capital Carers and is called the Young Carers Project. You can talk to them in confidence on 020 8693 5090.
Respite and community support services
Aside from the care we offer, following a needs assessment, you can also arrange respite and community support services yourself, direct from private companies or charities.
You will usually have to pay the full cost of these services if you have arranged them.
For information about the private companies and charities which provide respite and community support in Southwark, contact Southwark Carers.
Meeting other carers
You may find it helpful to meet other carers who share some of the same experiences or difficulties as you. There are a number of different carers' groups in Southwark that you can join or get support from. They are all independent of the council.
For more information on your local carers' groups, contact
Southwark Carers
Tel: 020 7708 4497
 www.southwarkcarers.org.uk
Cambridge House
131 Camberwell Road
London
SE5 0HF
Health advice and services
Carers and the people you care for often need help and advice from doctors or hospitals. Sometimes you and the person you care for may be able to get help from a district nurse or from a community psychiatric nurse.
Contact your GP for information on what the NHS can offer carers.
The Patient advice and liaison service (PALS), may also be able to help. Contact them on freephone 0800 58 77 170. PALS is committed to improving the patient's experience of healthcare by
- Using patients' comments to improve services
- Providing accurate information about local health
- Helping to sort out issues that are of concern to you
- Helping you to get the best out of your local health services
- Supporting people to get involved in the provision and development of our services
PALS will discuss the options available to you if you have concerns about the services you have received and will support you to resolve those concerns.
Contact
Southwark Health and Social Care
Tel: 0845 600 1287
csc@southwark.gov.uk
Woodmill Building
Neckinger
London
SE16 3QN |