Information and advice

Information and advice to support your caring role

 

Carers Oxfordshire is a service provided on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council in partnership with Age UK Oxfordshire. The service's aims are:

• to make it easier for carers to find their way into the system,
• to listen to carers’ needs and
• to give  information, advice and support to carers

 

Carers Oxfordshire will provide:

• Information aimed at your own personal situation e.g. about benefits and entitlements, support services, carers’ breaks, emergency back-up, employment, looking after yourself, training opportunities to support you in your caring role and much more .
• Advice and support over the phone and face to face in community settings, GP surgeries and at home where appropriate, including support to complete Carers self assessments.
• Signposting to other organisations and services which can also help.
• Information about support groups and connections to your nearest one or support to establish a new group in your area
• Information about how to have your voice heard through Oxfordshire Carers Forum

To contact Carers Oxfordshire youcan telephone 0845 050 7666
Or email carersoxfordshire@oxfordshire.gov.uk

To request a full list of available fact sheets, or if you would like to read more about any of the fact sheets topics please contact Carers Oxfordshire.

 

Black and minority ethnic carers

There are additional sources of information and support that may be particularly helpful for black and minority ethnic carers - please see additional information below or contact Carers Oxfordshire.

• Commission for Racial Equality 0845604 6610           
• The Afiya Trust 020 7582 0400
• Language Line 0800 169 2879
• Black information http://www.blink.org.uk/
• Muslim Health Network 020 8799 4475
• Asian People’s Disability alliance 020 8902 2231
• Refugee Council 020 7346 6700
• Asylum Aid 0207 354 9264
• Carers UK 0808 808 777
• Rethink 0300 5000 927
• Alzheimers Society 020 7423 3500

 

Advice Centres

These centres usually offer free and confidential advice on a variety of issues including:

• legal
• money matters
• housing matters
• consumer
• employment
• welfare benefits

South and Vale Carers Centre

Free independent and confidential advice, information and support. Day trips and young carers' project.
Tel: 01235 510212 (Contact us Tuesday to Friday 10am to 4pm)
Email: carers@svcarers.org.uk
Website: www.svcarers.org.uk

National organisations

Age UK– advice national 0800 169 6565

Carers UK Tel:  0808 808 777

Carers Direct Tel:0808 802 0202

 

Local – County wide

Age UK

Oxfordshire, City and County

Tel: 0844 8870005

 

Asylum welcome

Provides free, confidential information, help and guidance for refugees, asylum seekers and immigration detainees in Oxford and Oxfordshire. An independent charity and we are not a government agency. Telephone 01865 722082 open to the public on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays (10am – 3pm).

 

Solicitors Countywide

http://www.solicitors.co.uk/oxfordshire

 

Oxford City

 

Oxfordshire Chinese Community & Advice Centre

Tel: 01865 204188

 

Citizens Advice

Oxford
Tel: 08444 111 444

 

Agnes Smith Advice Centre

96 Blackbird Leys Road, Oxford OX4 5HS

Tel: 01865 770206 (available for residents of Blackbird Leys)

 

Barton Advice Centre

Underhill Circus, Oxford OX3 9LS

Tel:01865 744152 (available for the residents of Barton and Headington)

 

Rosehill and Donnington Advice Centre

The Cabin, The Oval, Rose Hill, Oxford OX4 4SF

Tel: 01865 438634 (available for the residents of Rose Hill, Iffley, Littlemore, New Hinksey, Cowley and Donnington)

 

North Oxfordshire

 

Citizens Advice

Banbury, Bicester
Tel: 08444 111 444

 

South Oxfordshire

South and Vale Carers Centre

Free independent and confidential advice, information and support. Day trips and young carers' project.
Tel: 01235 510212 (Contact us Tuesday to Friday 10am to 4pm)
Email: carers@svcarers.org.uk
Website: www.svcarers.org.uk

 

Citizens Advice

Abingdon, Didcot, Henley, Thame
Tel: 08444 111 444

                                   

Berinsfield Information Centre

39 Fane Drive, Berinsfield
Tel: 01865 340313

 

The Abingdon Bridge

Young People aged 13-25 information and support
Tel: 01235 522375

 

West Oxfordshire

 

Citizens Advice

Chipping Norton, Witney
Tel: 08444 111 444

 

Age UK

Chipping Norton
Tel: 01608 643458

 

Independent Advice Centre Wantage

16 Market Place Wantage Oxon OX12 8AE 01235 765348

 

 

Advice and support for older people

There are a number of groups and organisations - local and national - which provide advice and support to older people. They include:

 

Age UK

Charity concerned with the needs and aspirations of older people. Information line 0800 169 6565

 

Alzheimer's Society

The Alzheimer's Society provides advice and support to people with dementia and their Carers.

Tel: 020 7306 0606

 

Contact the Elderly

Seeks to reduce isolation for older people who live alone, by providing social occasions such as monthly tea parties.

Free phone 0800 716543

 

Advocacy

 There are a number of organisations in Oxfordshire who provide local independent advocacy services, and cover the specific needs of people with mental health problems, learning disabilities, physical disabilities and sensory impairment, and of older people.

An advocate can:

• Listen to you
• Help you to plan any action you may need or wish to take
• Write letters and make telephone calls with you, or for you
• Ensure your views are heard by attending meetings/reviews with you
• Obtain information for you, or put you in touch with someone who can
• Spend time with you preparing for meetings
• Investigate alternative sources of support
• Increase communication levels between you and others
• Find out what your rights are
• Liaise with relevant agencies

 

Oxfordshire Carers' Forum

Tel: 01235 520440

 

Oxfordshire Advocacy

Tel: 01865 741200

 

The Relatives & Residents Association advice line

Tel 020 7359 3136

 

 

All Age Advocacy Dementia Project (ADAPT)

Tel: 01865 742745

 

Age UK

St Edmunds House, 39 West Street, Abingdon OX14 5BW,

Tel: 0844 8870005 

 

Community advocates

Chinese: 01865 456619 or 456622
Indian and Pakistani women: 01865 456622
Bangladeshi women: 01865 456623
Travellers: 01869 325796
Caribbean: 01865 456618

 

 

Additionally there are a number of local and national organisations that are available, to support you in your role as a Carer, listed below are brief details about some of these organisations.  For more information about these or any other organisations that can help to support you in your role as a Carer, please contact Carers Oxfordshire on the contact details at the bottom of this fact sheet.

 

Local

• The Oxfordshire Carers’ Forum– The voice of Carers in Oxfordshire, run by Carers for Carers. It provides information and consultation on Carers’ issues, telephone 01235 520440
• Oxfordshire LINK- is a network of local people and groups who have joined forces to improve health and social care services they're independent of the local council and the NHS and exist throughout England, telephone 01993 862855
• Emergency Carers’ Support Service– arranges care when adult Carers of adults registered with them are unable to do so in the event of an emergency telephone 0845 050 7666
• Oxfordshire County Council Social & Health Care Team  can be contacted if there is a social care emergency for a child or an adult 0845 050 7666
• Oxfordshire Family Information Service– offers parents and Carers’ information on a range of topics such as childcare, early years, help with childcare costs, family support, resources for disabled children, and activities telephone 08452 262636
• Asylum welcome– free, confidential information, help and guidance for refugees, asylum seekers and immigration detainees in Oxford and Oxfordshire. Telephone 01865 722082.
• NHS Oxfordshire - Address: NHS Oxfordshire, Jubilee House, 5510 John Smith Drive, Oxford, Business Park South, Cowley, Oxford OX4 2LH, Tel: 01865 336 800

 

National

• Carers UK– Carer’ organisation lobbying and providing information, research and support for Carers.  Go to www.carersuk.org
  Address: Carers UK, 20 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4LX
  Tel: 0808 808 7777 (Carers Office), 020 7378 4999 (Office)
  Email: info@carersuk.org
• Age UK– Leading charity concerned with the needs and aspirations of older people, telephone: 0800 169 6565 (8am -7pm)
• Carers Direct– The Government’s new online resource and helpline for Carers’ information, telephone: 0808 802 0202
• Contact a family- provides support, advice and information for families with disabled children, no matter what their condition or disability, telephone 0808 808 3555
• Princess Royal Trust for Carers– Provides support through network of Carers’ centre’s, information, research, lobbying. Tel: 0844 800 4361
• Contact the Elderly– Seeks to reduce isolation for older people with dementia and their Carers,  telephone 0800 716543
• Alzheimer’s Society– provides advice and support to people with dementia and their Carers, telephonehelpline 0845 300 0336
• The Benefits Enquiry Line– for people with disabilities and their Carers, telephone 0800 882 200
• Rethink Carer Support Service (Mental Health)– Carers of Adults of working age with Mental illness may benefit from specialist support, telephone 01865 455877

 

Remember…it is important to let your GP know you are a Carer, so that your health needs as a Carer can be taken into account.

Sometimes situations are stressful and complicated. Some people are particularly vulnerable to being hurt or abused because they have a disability, illness or impairment and need help and support. Sometimes their Carers are vulnerable to abuse or neglect as well due to their youth, health or the relationship with the cared for person or pressures in the overall situation. This can result in isolation and problems being kept hidden from view. For more information:

For adults see: www.safefromharm.org.uk or contact the Social & Health Care Team on 0845 050 7666

For children see: www.oscb.org.uk or contact the Social & Health Care Team on 0845 050 7666

 

 

Please note: The organisations listed on this page are not endorsed or recommended by Oxfordshire County Council and the contact details are provided for information only.

Please feel free to contact any of the organisations on this fact sheet yourself. If required, Carers Oxfordshire can also help you further. You can contact them on 0845 050 7666, Monday to Thursday 08:30-17:00, Friday 08:30-16:00