Unpaid carers

An unpaid carer is someone who provides care and support to a family member, friend, or neighbour who could not manage without their help due to illness, disability, mental health needs, frailty, or addiction. Many people do not recognise themselves as carers, even though they provide significant support every day.

At Somerset Foundation Trust we recognise the invaluable contribution that unpaid carers make to the wellbeing of those they support and to our communities. We are committed to identifying, involving, and supporting unpaid carers wherever possible.

Who can help me?

If you are caring for someone with a mental health condition please see our Mental Health Carers Support Service page for more information.

If you are caring for someone with a physical health condition please see Community Council for Somerset for more information.

You may be an unpaid carer if you regularly help someone with:

• personal care
• attending appointments
• managing medication
• household tasks
• shopping and meal preparation
• emotional support
• financial or administrative tasks
• communication and advocacy.

Unpaid carers can be adults, young adults, or children and come from all walks of life.

Carers often have unique insights into the needs of the person they care for and can play a vital role in planning and delivering care.

However, caring responsibilities can also have a significant impact on a carer’s physical health, emotional wellbeing, employment, education, and finances.

Recognising and supporting carers helps to:

• improve outcomes for patients and service users
• promote carer wellbeing
• prevent carer breakdown/burnout and crisis situations
• ensure carers feel listened to, valued, and included.

Our carers support worker can support unpaid carers by:

• identifying carers early
• listening to and valuing their expertise
• involving them in care discussions where appropriate and with consent
• signposting them to relevant support services
• considering their own health and wellbeing needs
• recording carer information appropriately.

The carers support worker offers a range of support for unpaid carers during a patient’s stay in hospital, including:

Free car parking

Eligible carers may be able to access free car parking while visiting the person they care for.

Requests should be made through CarersSupport@somersetft.nhs.uk

A carers support worker will assess eligibility and, where appropriate, issue a car parking pass.

Daily food voucher

Eligible carers can receive a daily food voucher for use in the hospital restaurant/café. This enables carers to take a break from the ward and access a hot meal or drink during their visit.

Carers support worker visits

A carers support worker can meet with both the patient and their carer to:

• discuss the carer’s needs and wellbeing
• provide information, advice, and guidance
• signpost carers to local support services and resources
• provide information about local carers’ groups and peer support opportunities
• make referrals to other organisations and services where additional support may be beneficial
• help carers access practical, emotional, and community-based support.

For further information or to request support, please contact CarersSupport@somersetft.nhs.uk

Carers champions

• Help identify carers on the ward and refer them to the carers support worker.
• Carers champions are available on each ward and can provide advice, support, and information for unpaid carers.
• Encourage unpaid carers to speak with their ward’s carer champion if they need support.
• Help signpost carers to relevant services, resources, and community support available to them.

We recognise the vital role unpaid carers play and are committed to ensuring they feel valued, supported, and connected to the help available to them.