Advice & Support
While in-house counselling and occupational health services, along with flexile working provisions, may comprise significant internal support mechanisms, maintaining a healthy work-life balance may require carers and managers to seek more specialist advice and support.
A number of Carer-dedicated national organisations exist to provide advice and support to carers. Whether you need information on how to manage benefits and finances, or whether you want to enter an online forum to share your journey and engage with other Carers, or indeed, you may want to find out what Care organisations and facilities are located near you, then the following charitable bodies can assist. Carers Scotland can help in a variety of ways from advising on how to manage work-life balance and staying in employment, to the importance of maintaining good physical and mental health. Carers Scotland are also very active in advocating for carers through research and policy.
The mission of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers is to meet the diverse needs of carers through local and national services. Along with providing help, advice, and support for carers, they also engage in carer advocacy through avenues of research and policy influence.
CarersNet is a partnership project of the Coalition of Carers in Scotland, a network of over 80 local carer-led groups, centres and projects. The aims of the coalition are geared towards supporting local care organisations, and thus do not provide an individual advice service. However, they do provide useful signposts to local care organisation and are a rich source of research data and policy information.
Recognising the importance of maintaining both physical and mental health, Shared Care Scotland exists to support and promote the development of good practice in short breaks and respite care, and to improve access to information and advice.
Crossroads Caring Scotland supports many thousands of carers across Scotland. We offer carers the chance to take that much needed break, enabling them to take some ‘me time’ back. One in 5 of us will be a carer at some point in our life. If you are a carer, or you know someone who is, and you feel that you could benefit from a break, contact Crossroads on 0141 226 3793 or via the Crossroads Scotland website.