Service Response to Covid-19

CEO's Message to City's Unpaid Carers

Lucinda Godfrey, CEO

We recognise and value the substantial role that you are demonstrating by providing unpaid care, day in, day out, and know that the current situation will be impacting on you more than others. Whether you are caring for a disabled child, a parent with dementia or a daughter with mental health challenges it is critical that you know you can reach out at this time whether through the Carers Centre or other local resources.

As I reflect over the last few weeks and try to make some sense of the coming weeks there is one thing that I am very clear about, what’s being described as our ‘new normal’ has absolutely nothing ‘normal’ about it, but is absolutely critical to save lives. Being apart, goes against our fundamental need as human beings and as much as the telephone and the numerous online options are keeping us virtually connected, we are missing physical connection. The type of contact that conveys empathy, compassion, caring and hope. The type of contact that at times has the power to turn a bad situation into a better one or at least make it feel more manageable and this could not be more important for you, carers, young carers, disabled people and your families.

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1:1 Support for Adults & Young People

We are continuing to provide 1:1 support to carers and disabled people by telephone, and now via video call (using Attend Anywhere).  We continue to take referrals as normal so do let us know if you are working with carers who would benefit from additional support from the Centre.  We have also been issuing young carer and adult carer e-cards for carers who have to travel to carry out their caring role or have responsibilities for shopping or collecting medication.  We have issued 50 young carer cards and over 100 adult cards to date.

Virtual Hubs

We have created weekly Facebook Live Virtual Hubs for carers which have proved to be extremely popular, with over 1000 views.  If there are key issues you think it would be good to cover, or services you are providing you’d like to highlight by participating in the Hubs please us know.  Previous topics have including home-schooling and learning and development.  The Hubs are every Wednesday at 10am.

• 20th May, 10am – Maintaining Mental Wellbeing in Lockdown

For a list of all our past episodes click here.

Learning & Awards

The Learning Portal on www.carersofdundee.org is now live and will continue to be populated with online learning opportunities for carers and workforce. We are supporting carers and families to gain accredited awards and this has proved particularly popular during lockdown.  We can work with young people and adults on Hi5 Awards, Dynamic Youth and Adult Achievement Awards – so let us know if carers you work with would be interested in using the time in lockdown to gain new qualifications.

Short Breaks

Caring means something different for everyone, but every carer needs a break particularly during this time.  A Short Break does not necessarily mean being away from home and during lockdown we are being creative in the short breaks we offer to carers including online reading, pamper packages, hobby materials and games.  If you have any questions call 01382 200422 or email.

There are also lots of ideas for free short breaks to be found on the Shared Care Scotland Website click here.

Self-directed Support

We continue to assist carers and disabled people to make informed decisions regarding their social care support and direct payments during COVID-19.   The challenges of home care during self-isolation and ‘shielding’, PPE and furloughing, are all prevalent at this time. We continue to offer telephone and video support to carers and disabled people in Dundee & Angus.  In Dundee we have launched Personal Assistant Card which identifies them as an essential worker who has to travel to care for their employer, and has responsibility for shopping or the collection of medication.

Online Information & Advice

You can visit www.dundeecarerscentre.org.uk for more information about the support, information and advice we provide to carers of all ages and disabled people.

Carers of Dundee Website provides information and resources for carers and their families, as well as for professionals.  The site includes a Services Directory which includes details of organisations supporting carers throughout the city, an online learning portal and a new COVID-19 information page which brings together key information which may be of use to carers at this time.

We also continue to share information via social media for both Dundee Carers Centre and Carers of Dundee via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.