Carers Emergency Card Scheme
Carers are unpaid people who look after relatives, friends and neighbours who, due to a physical or mental illness, age or disability, can’t manage without their help. Many people don’t see themselves as a carer as they might be parents, children, partners, friends or neighbours. A carer can be any age and come from any background.
The scheme is for carers who are concerned about what would happen if they were taken ill, in an accident or if another emergency stopped them from getting to the person they care for. This scheme gives peace of mind that, should something happen to prevent you from being able to provide care, the person you care for will not be left without support. This enables the person you care for to receive the care they need whilst remaining in their own home until the emergency is over or until other arrangements can be made.
How does it work?
You will need to have a carer’s assessment. This is an assessment based on individual needs. A social worker will visit you to talk to you and the person you care for. It’s your opportunity to tell us about the help and support that would need to be put in place to support the person you care for in the event of an emergency. This will be your emergency ‘back up’ support plan. In the event of an emergency, your plan will be shared so the individual requirements of the person you care for – such as medication – will be known by the person providing the replacement care.
Once the Emergency Support Plan is in place, you will receive a ‘Carers Emergency Card’. This identifies you as a carer in the event of an accident or emergency. The card is designed to fit in a wallet, purse or pocket, enabling it to be carried easily at all times. When a call is made to the scheme, the operator will ask for the I.D number. Using this number, the operator will look up the emergency plan and make arrangements to put your plan into action. This could be as simple as contacting a named relative or neighbour right through to arranging professional help.
There is no charge to register with the scheme and the first 48 hours of support is provided free of charge. As a carer, you would not normally be expected to pay for services which help support you, however, after 48 hours there may be a charge for services provided for the person you care for.
How do I register with the scheme?
You must be a carer:
- Aged 18 years or over and caring for someone aged 18 years or over;
- Must be living in Wigan borough;
- The person you care for should be known to or be eligible for support from the council’s Department of Adult Services.
If you have a Social Worker or Care Coordinator, contact them to register on to the scheme. Alternatively, if you do not have a Social Worker or Care Coordinator, contact the Central Duty Team and request a Carers Assessment.
If you would like further information on the Carers Emergency Card Scheme, contact the Carers Support Team.
