| If you care for someone every day, you can end up feeling as though you have no time for yourself. 'Respite' means 'a break' . . . which is what our services give carers.
Community Support Workers offer practical help and support to ensure that carers get some time off from the daily routine and pressures of care-giving, while feeling confident that the person they care for is being supported properly.
Who are these services for?
Together's respite services work with carers of people with mental health problems. Other services support those who care for people with different problems, including disabilities and serious illnesses.
|Top| What do respite-care services offer?
Our services provide support in the home to give you regular, planned breaks. A Community Support Worker (usually the same person every time) will visit each week and look after the person you support, freeing you to do other things and have some time to yourself.
We offer:
- someone to talk to about your caring routines and responsibilities who can offer practical advice and support
- care you can be confident in – we have mental health expertise, and our staff will respect both your needs and those of the person you support
- information on how to deal with things like benefits
- a plan of support – drawn up with the agreement of both of you – so you can make the most of our services
- flexibility – we aim to give you the support you need when you most want it, and can also help with emergency, illness or holiday cover
- consistency – we aim to make sure that you are supported by the same person week to week, so you can build a relationship with them.
|Top| What are the benefits of respite care?
Taking a break from the pressure of supporting someone who depends on you can prevent you from becoming over-tired, stressed, resentful or depressed.
Using respite services on a regular basis – however happy you are to be a carer – can re-energise you and enable you to look after the person you care for more effectively. Respite care helps both carers and the people they support to gain confidence and independence, and build new relationships.
|Top| How long can I use the service?
Most respite-care services provide support for as long as you need it. The maximum amount of time each person can get varies between about four and ten hours a week. The amount of support you receive is reviewed regularly.
The service can be withdrawn if a Community Support Worker experiences mistreatment such as insulting or discriminatory behaviour, threats or physical violence from either the carer or the person being cared for.
|Top| How are these services paid for?
Together's services are free of charge. They are usually funded by local authorities. Other respite-care services may make a small charge for their services.
|Top| How can I get help from a respite scheme?
Your GP or social worker, or the social worker or community mental health (psychiatric) nurse of the person you care for, can tell you about respite services in your area and refer you if necessary. Alternatively you can refer yourself.
A Community Support Worker from the service will visit you to assess your needs and those of the person you support. An action plan documenting how they will help you and the times they will visit will then be drawn up.
|Top| Find out more
Our respite services are listed alphabetically county by county. To find out more about individual services, contact them direct. | 
