In the lead up to the festive season, Warwickshire County Council is highlighting its Carers Response Emergency Support Service (CRESS) to the 60,000 carers who will be caring for a friend or a lov...
In the lead up to the festive season, Warwickshire County Council is highlighting its Carers Response Emergency Support Service (CRESS) to the 60,000 carers who will be caring for a friend or a loved one throughout the festive season.
CRESS, which is provided by Carers Trust Heart of England and funded by Warwickshire County Council, is a free service that gives carers a chance to take a break from their caring responsibilities and offers peace of mind that the person they care for will be looked after if they aren’t able to, such as attending hospital or GP appointments, or a significant event.
Izzi Seccombe, Leader of Warwickshire County Council said:
“For many the opportunity to take a break from their caring responsibility is a welcomed relief, particularly at this time of year when demands on time and health can be heightened. We currently have over 200 carers registered with the CRESS across the county. We would encourage anyone who is looking after a loved one to sign up for this support, by registering with the Carer Wellbeing Service now and having an emergency plan in place should the unexpected happen.”
Sonja Woodhouse, CEO of Carers Trust Heart of England said:
“Many carers tell us that, due to their caring commitments, they feel unable to attend GP or hospital appointments and often lose contact with wider family and friends, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation. The CRESS team are able to support carers to ensure that their health and wellbeing needs are met and offers peace of mind that the person you care for will be looked after if you aren’t able to.”
Once a carer has been in touch, support staff from the CRESS service will arrange a visit to the carer to complete an emergency support plan for both the person with caring responsibilities and the person they are responsible for.
In an emergency, the CRESS support team will contact any people named within the emergency plan to ensure the person who requires care is looked after. Should the named person be unavailable, CRESS provides a qualified care support worker to look after the person for up to 72 hours.
For more information about the Warwickshire CRESS Service please email warwickshirecress@carerstrusthofe.org.uk or call 02476 258816 (Out of hours: 07979 503 133).