Carers Matter Norfolk

Carers Matter Norfolk is the countywide service funded by Norfolk County Council and the NHS to provide support to unpaid carers, we have an adult carer service for those aged 16+ caring for someone aged 18+.  All services are free. Support is available to those caring for someone living in Norfolk, whether the carer lives in the county or elsewhere (caring at a distance).

We can provide support to carers in a variety of ways:

Carers Matter Advice Line

The Carers Matter Norfolk Advice Line provides free, independent and confidential support. Our highly skilled team of Carer Advisors have been trained to provide listening and emotional support and many have personal lived experience of caring. It is free to call our Advice Line on 0800 083 1148 from both landline and mobile telephones.

If we identify you will benefit from additional support such as a carer’s assessment, counselling, access to the health and wellbeing fund, a break from your caring role or education and training, we will refer you to the Community Support Team who can support you further and your carers assessment will be with them.

A carer’s assessment is your opportunity to discuss with Carers Matter Norfolk what support or services you need. The assessment will look at how caring affects your life, including, for example, physical, mental and emotional needs, and whether you are able or willing to carry on caring. 

Community Support

A highly skilled and knowledgeable team of Family Carer Practitioners, based in Early Help Hubs (District Council offices) and in Norfolk County Council Adult Social Services offices, will deliver one-to-one support in the community and carry out Carers Assessments.

You can refer yourself for a Carers Assessment via the Carers Matter Norfolk Advice Line. A Family Carer Practitioner will meet with you one-to-one and complete Part B of the Carer’s Assessment with you, which will include creating an Action Plan helping you to focus on what you want to achieve and the steps you can take with a Family Carer Practitioner to reach them.

Family Carer Practitioners will offer:

• Carers Assessments – tailored support and action planning to help you maintain your health and wellbeing and independence;
• Support Planning e.g. working with you to increase your local support networks;
• Support to access entitlements or grants;
• Information & Advice (greater detail and complexity than the Advice Line);
• Support with complex form filing (e.g. benefits, housing, major adaptations).

We will help you gain the skills to self-advocate (speaking up and representing yourself) where possible or refer you into specialist services where appropriate if you like someone else to represent you.

The POD

Online Carers Community – message boards, groups, forums.

Carers Breaks

Carers breaks can provide a personalised, flexible break from caring.

Education & Training
Online E-Learning portal for carers (e.g. dementia, managing behaviour, self-advocacy).
Education and Training sessions for Carers Peer Support Groups – topics chosen by groups.

Membership & Voice
This can give carers the opportunity for to have a say in the way that local services are planned, developed and commissioned.