A carer is someone who cares for a family member, friend, or neighbour who could not manage without their support.

A carer may not always live with the person they care for, but their help can often be essential in enabling that person to go on living independently. Whether they require care because of mental illness, disability, health, age, or substance misuse problems.

Caring for someone covers lots of different things, like helping with their washing, dressing, or eating, taking them to regular appointments, or offering emotional support.

Caring for someone who relies on you can impact on your health, finances and quality of life and may become more stressful over time.

What is a Carers Assessment? The Care Act 2014 states any carer who appears to have a need for support should be offered a carers assessment.  Don’t be put off by the word ‘assessment’.  It is not a test of your abilities as carer.  A carer’s assessment is the best way to let your local council know how your caring responsibilities affects you.

The assessor will talk to you about the ways that caring affects your life, including your physical, mental and emotional needs and what could make things better for you.

It will also consider the things you want to achieve in your own day-to-day life, whether you work, or want to work, study or do more socially, along with other important issues, such as whether you are able or willing to carry on caring. 

You can have a carers assessment even if the person you care for does not get any help from the council.  You don't need the permission of the person you are caring for to request a carer's assessment. You are entitled to ask for one in your own right.

Having a carers assessment will not affect whether or not you receive a carer's allowance .

How to access a Carers’ Assessment

If you are looking after another adult who lives in the borough of Bury, Adult Care Connect and Direct is the first point of contact to access a carers assessment – 0161 253 5151

If the person you care for lives in a different area, you need to contact their local council instead.

Bury Carers' Hub provides a single point of access or all adult carers (18+) supporting another adult living in Bury. The Hub exists to ensure that carers have access to information, advice, and a wide range of support services.

These support services are designed to help carers continue in their caring role for as long as they choose and to reduce the impact the caring role can have on a carer's own health and wellbeing.

Our offer includes:

• Access to 1-2-1 support.

• Information, advice and guidance.

• Peer support, including Coffee & Chats and carer drop-in sessions.

• Training and volunteering opportunities.

• Help to take a break from your caring responsibilities. 

• Access to the Carers Community Network, which is an on-line community platform for carers. 

• Weekly day and evening ZOOM sessions.

• Access to a 24-hour/7 days a week CHAT Line delivered by other Carers. 

• A private Facebook group.

• Pen-Pal scheme.

• Support to access community, health and wellbeing services. 

• Access to a regular Bury Carers’ Hub magazine.