Carers

Hospital-based Carer Support Workers

The Carer Support Workers work with patients and colleagues to provide support for carers whilst the person they care for is in hospital, offering information and advice, preparing them to be able to continue caring once the person is discharged from hospital.

The team can attend discharge meetings and other key meetings to ensure that carers and their loved ones get the care and support they feel they need.

For more information or to be put in touch with one of the Hospital Support Workers, call 01924 305544 or email info@carerswakfield.org.uk.

Carers Passport

We have a Carers Passport available which supports the rights of carers to remain with loved ones who would benefit from their support in hospital and information about some of the services available to carers.

For outpatients, carers can wear the lanyard to let staff know that they are a carer and that the patient may look for support from this person to help them understand or physically support them.

To obtain a Carers Passport or if you need any support, please contact Carers Wakefield.

Family, Friends and Carers’ Charter

We have co-produced a Family, Friends and Carers’ Charter alongside Carers Wakefield & District, Wakefield Council, carers and volunteers.

 By listening to carers’ knowledge about the person they care for, involving carers in decisions about the patient’s care whilst they are in hospital, we hope to ensure that carers feel valued, involved and informed. This Charter explains what you can expect from us, the Trust and what we would like from you in return.

View the friends-family-and-carers-charter.pdf [pdf] 87KB

Relatives overnight stay rooms

If you find yourself in a position where you need to stay unexpectedly, we have a small number of overnight stay rooms available at Pinderfields Hospital that provide privacy, dignity and a place to get some well needed rest.

The rooms, designed for relatives, friends and carers of patients who are in the palliative or critical care stages of their treatment, include drinks making facilities, reclining chairs with bedding and a bathroom.

Speak to a member of ward staff to access one of these rooms. The rooms are available for one nights’ stay and are to be vacated by 11am the following day to allow for cleaning.

MY Space rooms

In collaboration with carers and staff from Carers Wakefield & District, alongside Wakefield Council, we have developed spaces for patients, family, friends and carers to spend time away from the bedside, to speak with professionals or as a place of privacy and comfort at what can be a distressing time.

Family support rooms

We have a number of ‘family support rooms’ situated on our elderly care wards. Designed with a fitted wardrobe complete with a fold-away bed to enable family and carers to stay in the same room overnight and be physically close to their loved ones who are living with dementia or in their final days.

Carers UK Digital Resource for Carers

Wakefield Council and Kirklees Council have invested in the Digital Resource for Carers. This resource brings together a number of products and online resources to provide comprehensive information to carers, to promote self-care, and direct carers to relevant local services/support.

The core elements of the digital resources are:

• E-learning:
  A suite of courses for carers to find resources, technologies and sources of support.
• ‘Jointly’ - A care co-ordination app:
  Makes caring for someone less stressful and more organised by making communication and coordination between those who share the care as easy as a text message.
• Carers UK guides - free publications:
  Essential reading including ‘Upfront Guide to Caring’, ‘Looking after someone: Carers Rights Guide’ and ‘Being Heard - A self-advocacy guide for carers’.

Access these resources here

Create an account using your free access code: WESTYORKS

Young carers are children between the ages of 5 and 19 years who help to look after a member of the family who is sick, disabled, has mental health problems, or is misusing drugs or alcohol. Wakefield District Young Carers and Kirklees Young Carers provide valuable support to help reduce the caring responsibilities and encourage them to access local services such as sports clubs, support groups and health centres.

• Being a young carer: your rights - (NHS website)
• Information for young carers (Wakefield Council website)
• Believe in Children Barnado’s - for Young Carers in Kirklees - telephone: 01484 426100 or email: kirkleesyoungcarers@barnardos.org.uk

Useful information is available from:

Up to date links to useful organisations are available via the Carers Wakefield & District website or Carers Count (Kirklees) website.

All carers are encouraged to register as a carer with their local GP. Local Carers' support services can help carers apply for an emergency ‘carer card’ that can provide peace of mind that contingency plans are accessible to all should any unplanned emergency occur to you as the carer.