Support for carers: where to start

Do you need general information?

You can:

Talk to the Reading and West Berkshire Carers Partnership	Talk to Voluntary Sector providers about services - find them on the West Berkshire Directory
Visit West Berkshire Council's support for carer's page	Request a read the carers booklet online here [2MB]  to be posted to you
Talk to your GP or social prescriber

Specific information and advice about your role as a carer

Talk to Reading and West Berkshire Carers Partnership. The partnership members are Age UK Berkshire and CommuniCare. The council commissions the partnership to work with the carers of residents in West Berkshire. 

They can help with information, advice and guidance on: respite, carers breaks, carers cards, carers support groups near you, events, health and wellbeing, claiming benefits including carers allowance and support with carers forms to request a carers assessment.

Contact: 0118 959 4242 or email info@ageukberkshire.org.uk. You can discuss your issues or request a visit.

Have you still got unmet needs following the routes taken above?

You can request a carers assessment. A council worker will complete the carers assessment with you to identify what help you need to continue as a carer. It will also help us work out if you are eligible for support under the Care Act.

If you are eligible for support from the council

West Berkshire Council will complete and approve a support plan. We may identify a carers personal budget (this can be taken as a Direct Payment or council arranges support). We will complete an annual review of support needs (or more frequently if required). See our support for carers from the council page for more information.

If eligible, relevant carer support is funded by the council, apart from respite services.

If you are not eligible for support from the council

You can ask for help from Reading and West Berkshire Carers Partnership. 

Even if you do not need support from the council, you can still let us know that you are a carer in West Berkshire. We can also give you information, advice and signposting to other services and organisations.

Are you in a crisis?

Contact Adult Social Care on 01635 503050 or GP for advice.