One to one support

If you simply need to talk to someone or have a question about your caring situation you can contact us by telephone, email or call into the Gateway to care. Our carer support team will be happy to listen to your concerns and can put you in touch with services which offer practical, emotional and financial support. We also offer individual appointments and home visits.

Carers led assessment

A Carers led assessment is an opportunity for you to tell Kirklees Council and NHS Kirklees what would make caring easier for you and help you to have a life alongside your caring role You have the right to a carer led assessment if you are aged 16 or over and provide, or intend to provide, a lot of care regularly for another person, aged 18 years or over, and this person is someone for whom the local authority may provide or arrange the provision of community care services.

Information

We can offer you information about almost anything to do with your caring situation, which might be about services, your rights or carers support groups. If we don't know the answer to something, we'll try to find out. We have a library of useful information at the Carers Gateway centre which includes books, leaflets, magazines, newsletters, and videos. We publish a free newsletter twice a year, packed with information and articles about issues that might be of interest to carers and people who work with carers. Please contact us to be added to the mailing list.

Consultation and information events

We know there are many hidden carers in Kirklees and we are committed to finding those carers, who are hard to reach and those who may be at risk of their caring role breaking down, now or in the next 12 months. Each year during Carers Rights Day and Carers Week we hold events across Kirklees to celebrate the role of caring, raising awareness about carers and their rights and aim to find and support those hidden carers to have a life alongside their caring role. We work in partnership with NHS Kirklees, Public Services and Voluntary Organisations to make sure we offer a wealth of information so carers can have the choice and control they desire about their individual situation.

We want to give carers the opportunity to take a break from their caring responsibilities, to learn something new and to meet and relax in the company of other carers. We need carers to give us their views on issues that are important to them and how they feel they can be best supported in their caring role. From time to time we request carers to join in events or be interviewed about their experience and we want to co-produce services with you. If your'e interested in taking part please contact us by emailing gatewaytocare@kirklees.gov.uk

We recognise the difficulties carers may face when wanting to take part in events and so we are able to arrange alternative care for the cared for person and travel. The events are free of charge.

Expert Patients Programme: Looking after me free courses for unpaid carers

Looking after me is a course for adults who care for someone living with a long-term health condition or disability. It is about carers making time to look after their own health needs and aims to help them to take more control of their situation and make a difference to their life.