Supporting Unpaid Carers
If you are an unpaid Carer looking for information and advice to support you in your caring role, please visit the Regional website for unpaid Carers linked below.
Carers Support West Wales | Cymorth Gofalwyr Gorllewin Cymru
Do you look after someone?
Are you a Carer?
“A Carer is someone who provides unpaid help and support to a relative, friend, or neighbour who could not manage on their own due to illness, disability, frailty, physical impairment, mental ill health or substance misuse.”
Does this sound like you? If so, you are an unpaid Carer. We are interested in identifying Carers, especially those people who may be caring without help or support. We know that Carers are often “hidden” looking after a family member or helping a friend or neighbour with day-to-day tasks and may not see themselves as a Carer.
We feel that caring for someone is an important and valuable role in the community. It is often a 24-hour job that can be very demanding and isolating for the Carer. We further believe Carers should receive appropriate support by way of access to accurate information on a range of topics such as entitlement to benefits and respite care and not least, a listening ear when things get too much.
Why unpaid Carers are vital?
Unpaid Carers provide around 96% of the care in the community and save the NHS in Wales over £8.1 billion each year. PAVS Age Friendly and Dementia Supportive Communities recognises that Carers contribute a significant saving to the NHS by looking after relatives, neighbours or friends who might otherwise have to go into long term care. Young Carers, under the age of 18 may be particularly vulnerable due to their inexperience and lack of life-skills. Young Adult Carers, between the ages of 18-25, can be the most hidden group of Carers in our society. Therefore, we at PAVS Age Friendly and Dementia Supportive Communities are committed to providing appropriate support and consideration to our service users who are Carers, whatever their age.
If you would like support or more information, please contact PAVS Age Friendly and Dementia Supportive Communities Development Officer, Angela Reid: angela.reid@pavs.org.uk
Registering as a Carer – Benefits
If you are a Carer, please let your GP Surgery know. A Carers Registration/Referral form is available at your GP surgery or by speaking to our Carers Lead Julie Campbell: julie.campbell@pavs.org.uk
Why should you register as a Carer with your GP surgery?
Registering as a Carer may help your health care team to:
Our Carer Lead is Julie Campbell, a dedicated member of staff to help with Carer-related enquires. You can speak to her by telephone 07595 192 937, or email to make an appointment for a chat. Julie has lots of information to share with you which may help. We look forward to hearing from you.
What is a Carer’s Needs Assessment?
As a Carer, you are entitled to have a Carers Needs Assessment by Social Services. It is a chance to talk about your needs as a Carer and the possible ways help could be given. It also looks at the needs of the person you care for. This could be done separately, or together, depending on the situation. There is no charge for an assessment. Every Carer is entitled to an assessment; however, it is not an assessment of your ability to provide care. When you register with your GP Practice as a Carer, the practice will offer you the chance to have a referral.
Additional information and support
Information can also be found at:
Working in partnership to support carers
The West Wales Carers Development Group (WWCDG) are a formal sub-group of the West Wales Regional Partnership Board (RPB). The group includes representatives of health board, the three local authorities, third and voluntary sector organisations, service users and carers in West Wales. The group is currently chaired by Anna Bird, Hywel Dda UHB, with vice chair Sophie Buckley, PAVS.
The WWCDG work together to utilise the carers funding provided by Welsh Government. The funding is used to ensure that carers priorities are embedded in services in line with the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
The RPB launched the West Wales Carers Strategy 2020-2025 on Carers Rights Day 2020. We work with the RPB and are committed to the strategy. The carers strategy sets out four priority areas to set out how we will work together to plan, develop and deliver services that will improve outcomes for carers and their families. The priorities are:
- Improve the early identification and self-identification of carers, including young carers and young adult carers.
- Ensure a range of services is available to support the well-being of carers of all ages, in their life alongside caring.
- Support carers to access and maintain education, training and employment opportunities.
- Support carers to become digitally included.
Defining the priority areas was informed by feedback we have received from recent engagement activities, as well as the national priorities set by Welsh Government, and the 2017 population needs assessment for West Wales. The West Wales Carers Strategy will support services for Carers that are based on the principal of equality and fair access for all. You can view the strategy by clicking here (opens in new tab) To view the Strategy in Welsh, please click here
You can view the latest WWCDG Annual Report by clicking here. For a Welsh version, please click here.
Pembrokeshire Carer’s Provider Forum is an independent Forum of organisations providing, or wishing to provide, services to unpaid Carers of all ages in Pembrokeshire. The Forum exists to unite members to make an effective contribution to the planning and delivery of services for unpaid Carers of all ages in Pembrokeshire. This Forum feeds into, and receives information from the Pembrokeshire Carers Strategy Partnership Board and West Wales Carers Development Group. The forum membership includes carers, Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales, Carers Support Pembrokeshire, carers groups, the Health Board Investors in Carers lead as well a national organisations the All Wales Forum for Parent Carers and Carers Wales. Facilitated by PAVS, if you are interested in joining the Network, please contact Ana Reis-Rogers at ana.reis-rogers@pavs.org.uk
How to contact us
See our list of staff contact details and make direct contact with the person you need.
Alternatively our office phone line is open between 9am and 4pm each day on 01437 769422
Our generic email is enquiries@pavs.org.uk
Registered Office: 36/38 High Street
Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA61 2DA
Office Hours
Our staff are now working in a hybrid way which means they may not be in the office, but working from other venues or home working. Due to changes in the way we now work, we are not holding meetings or running training events in person from our premises. However, if you wish to meet with a member of staff then please email them directly or call their business mobile number. The staff contact list is kept up to date with the most recent information.
If you do need to call at our premises, we are open from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00am to 4.30pm on a Friday (except on Bank Holidays). Between 9am and 10am, and after 2pm, Monday to Thursday and all day Friday you may need to ring the bell (situated on the right hand side of the door). If you are just delivering mail, then please use the letter box on the front door.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
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