Ethnic Minority Carers
Introduction
At Renfrewshire Carers Centre, we recognize that people come from diverse cultural backgrounds and sustain their unique identity and practices despite living in a different land of their origin. We are committed to provide sensitive and confidential support considering their cultural values to better fit into the support systems, both nationally and locally, relevant to their caring role.
We also collaborate with organisations and social groups that are working with individuals and families from ethnic minority backgrounds in Renfrewshire, who are working towards sustaining and supporting cultural identities. If you or your organisation/group is concerned about someone looking after a family member or a friend, you may refer them to us. You may contact us if you would need any clarification, additional information or would like us to visit your organisation or social event.
We acknowledge that some Carers from ethnic minority backgrounds may face complex immigration issues. We welcome Carers who are asylum seekers or anyone who has another immigration status including but not limited to, student, skilled worker or dependent.
If you would like any more information and support, please get in touch with Felician, our Carers Advisor – Ethnic Minorities at felician@renfrewshirecarers.org.uk or text 07544 181 786.
Who is a Carer?
A Carer is someone who looks after or intends to look after a partner, friend or relative who is unable to cope without support due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction.
Renfrewshire Carers Centre has a dedicated team of Adult Support Workers who will help you get the right information and support. An Adult Support Worker will offer the option of completing an Adult Carer Support Plan which can help Carers get the correct support.
Felician is part of this team, working with Ethnic Minority Carers and can provide a listening ear for Carers who are struggling emotionally; feeling isolated or are in need of support with their caring role.
During office hours, a member of staff will be available by telephone. If you prefer, we would be happy to meet with you at the Carers Centre, by appointment only.
Adult Carer Support Plans
An Adult Carer Support Plan helps Carers to think about what support they may need to help them continue to provide care. It looks at ways that they can be supported to have a life outside of their caring role, set out any needs they have, and how these needs will be met.
Make a Referral
If you’d like to make a referral for yourself or someone you’re supporting, please get in touch with us at enquiries@renfrewshirecarers.org.uk or call us on 0141 887 3643.
We’re here to help in any way we can. Through ourselves you can access the Citizens Advice Bureau, MSM Solicitors’ Legal Surgery as well as Tom Arthur MSP’s Surgery for help from a local representative.
These grants and breaks are here to support you in getting the time out you need – for rest, relaxation, or simply doing something for yourself.
Staff can provide a listening ear for Carers who are struggling emotionally, feeling isolated or are in need of support with their caring role.
Carers can also get expert help, if needed, from our Counselling Service.
Our monthly support groups provide Carers with a place where they can meet, where they can get support, information and advice and staff support as well as time out from their caring role. Our groups are:
- Male Carers
- Alzheimer’s Carers
- Mental Health Carers
- Learning Disability Carers
- Under 18s ASD Parent Carers
- Caring for Carers
The Carers Advocacy Service provides 1:1 Advocacy to Carers who are experiencing issues as a direct result of their caring role.
The service aims to ensure that Carers views are heard and provide accurate information to allow Carers to make informed choices about their caring role and issues affecting them.
Advocacy may be of help when Carers are experiencing difficulties with the following:
- Social work, health, and other support services
- Hospital discharge planning
- Transition from home into long term care
- Attendance at meetings/reviews
- Housing
Our training offers short training courses for Carers to improve their caring skills and knowledge, and opportunities to learn from other Carers. Courses are based around caring for someone with a particular illness as well as providing tools for looking after the Carers own health and wellbeing. Caring for someone with a specific Illness:
- Dementia
- Autism
- ADHD
- Stroke
Wellbeing courses:
- Stress management
- Relaxation skills
- Mindfulness, Meditation
- Healthy thinking
- Therapies
- Yoga
Information courses:
- POA/Guardianship
- Benefits
- First Aid
- Carers rights
- Hospital discharge
- Guardianship/children
Our Care at Home service is a social enterprise that provides high quality, personalised, social care support services to clients of all ages. We work in an inclusive, person-centered way to meet our client’s individual requirements and we can provide services from a few hours to 24 hours per day.
Our staff are committed and passionate about supporting you and your loved ones to live independently and achieve the best quality of life possible. Many of our staff have been Carers themselves so understand the challenges of caring for a loved one. They are also trained and supervised to ensure that they provide high quality, flexible support.
Our dedicated, security checked and trained staff are available to assist you with:-
- Personal Care
- Meal Support
- Medication
- Respite
- Shopping
- Housework
- Companionship
- Overnight Support
- Escort for appointments
- Social Activities
- Day trips
- Group Activities
If you’d like to contact our Care at Home team, you can call them on: 0141 483 5430 or lorna@renfrewshirecarers.org.uk
An Emergency Plan will detail the immediate care needs of the person who’s cared for. This includes support needs, daily routine, risks and the contact details of family members and/or friends.
Carers will be issued with a Carers Emergency Card, which will identify them as a Carer. Should an emergency occur, the Carers Emergency Card will alert services that a plan is in place and health, social care and other support services can be arranged, as necessary.
Young Carers are children and young people aged 8 – 18 yrs who are still at school and look after someone at home who is unable to cope without support due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction.
The Young Carers service provides information and training on Young Carers rights and services. A Young Carers Worker is there to listen and advocate on behalf of Young Carers. We can also speak to schools and other professionals to help get the best outcome for Young Carers.
The Young Carers service offers opportunities to have fun, learn new things and meet other young people who are going through a similar situation whilst getting a break from their caring role.
Caring responsibilities are unique to each Young Carer.
If you or someone you know is a Young Carer, our Young Carers Team can offer support.
Unpaid Carers contributions are vital to our communities and Carers deserve to be recognised, valued and supported for the essential role they play. This is why we have developed a Renfrewshire Carers Discount Card.
Our Carers Discount Card will not only help raise awareness of the valuable work Carers do, it will provide them with access to a wide range of discounted goods and services across Renfrewshire. This could be anything from a discounted massage or evening meal to a special offer on a new hair colour or prescription glasses.
You can apply for your Carers Discount Card here.
We’re here to help in any way we can. Here you can find condition-specific information booklets created with the help of local organisations.
Please note – these information booklets are a work in progress and this page will be updated as we develop more resources.
You can have a look here.
Volunteers help Renfrewshire Carers Centre provide a wide range of services and support
What will you get out of Volunteering?
Volunteering has many benefits, including helping improve your physical and mental health. It is also an excellent way for anyone, including Carers, to meet and connect with new people who may share the same interests while helping in their local community. Volunteering can also provide opportunities to learn new skills, develop new interests and gain self-confidence which is great for personal development – giving a sense of purpose and fulfilment.
Volunteering opportunities include:
- Telephone Befriending contacting Carers on a regular basis to ask how they are
- Help with activities in our various support groups.
- Help with admin tasks
- Help to identify hidden Carers and raise awareness of Carer’s issues at information stalls, community events, GP surgeries and hospitals.
- Interpretation support for ethnic minority Carers, for example, at the Centre, for meetings, social activities and more
- Become a Trustee
- Help with fundraising for the Centre.
- Volunteer driver – taking Carers/cared for to hospital, GP, or dental appointments.
- Counselling for our in-house Counselling Service
If you’d like to make a referral for yourself or someone you’re supporting, please get in touch with us at enquiries@renfrewshirecarers.org.uk or call us on 0141 887 3643.
