Carers Support

Do you provide support to a friend, relative or neighbour who would not manage without it?

You might not think of yourself as a carer and think what you do is just part of being a parent, spouse, friend or sibling. But if you

Are you helping someone with everyday household tasks like shopping, cleaning, cooking, washing or dressing
Regularly transport someone to medical appointments
Provide emotional or mental health support

you can be considered a carer by doing these things, and there is support available in Dorset specifically for you.

You can access the right support at the right time for you as a carer by taking TWO EASY STEPS.

STEP ONE: Are you a Carer? Let us know by completing and submitting the form below.

Why? Carers are at a much higher risk of becoming ill and it is important that you look after your own health and accept any treatment that you need as, ultimately, you cannot look after someone else without first looking after yourself. If we know who our patient carers are, we can improve the services we offer to you.

If you care for someone else, please let us know so we may update our medical records. Scroll down to complete our online Tell Us you are a Carer form or contact us to let us know.

Bridgit - the quick and easy online support tool

People who regularly look after a family member or friend can now explore resources to support them using an online tool known as Bridgit. It's quick and easy way for carers or cared for people to learn about health conditions, get personal advice and find local events and services.

Brought to you by Dorset Council, Bridgit allows people to explore free well-being, employment, finance and care advice and events, local and national support services and training opportunities. People can also build their own ‘self-care plan’. It’s all available any time of day and without registering first.

Keeping Vulnerable Loved Ones Safe with the Herbert Protocol

The Herbert Protocol is a form that carers, family or friends of a vulnerable person, or the person themselves can fill in. It contains a list of information to help the police if the person goes missing, including:

Keeping a completed form saves the worry of trying to recall the information during the stressful time of someone going missing. It also saves time for the police, allowing the search to start sooner.

Follow this link to download and print out a Herbert Protocol form>>

Find out more on the Dorset Police website here>>

Carers Support Dorset

Carers Support Dorset holds the carers register for Dorset Council. They have a range of services that can be tailored to fit your needs as a carer including a phone line, regular training opportunities, events, a befriending service, and specific support for young carers.

They offer:

Phoneline
Here to talk
Regular newsletters
Training
Dorset Carers card
Events
Information Hub
Young carers support

For more information, phone 0800 368 8349 or email admin@carersupportdorset.co.uk

Follow this link to the Carer Support Dorset website for more information>>

Are You a Young Carer?

A young carer is someone aged 18 or under who looks after or helps to look after someone. It might be your mum or dad, grandparent, brother or sister or a close relative. This often means doing things like cooking, cleaning, shopping, giving medication or just talking and helping when the person you care about is feeling sad. School, friends and doing things you enjoy can sometimes be hard to fit in.

Young people living in Dorset Council area aged under 18 years who are caring for an adult should contact Dorset Direct. Phone 01305 221000 or email customerservices@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. The team will support young people to find the right help for them.

If you look after or help to look after someone, follow this link for Help and Advice for Young Carers>>>

Carer Friendly ID Card

A Carer Friendly ID card is available to carers within the Dorset and BCP Council areas. If you are a resident in the Dorset Council area, to receive the new card, you must be registered with Carer Support Dorset. If you already have a carers card this remains valid until its expiry date, so there's no need to switch unless you'd like to.

This new photo ID card proves you are a carer when you are out and about, provides access to hundreds of local and national discounts on goods and services, records your In Case of Emergency (ICE) contact details, and comes as a physical card and digital download for your phone.

To register for your new card follow this link to the Dorset Carer Friendly Registration page>> You will need your Carer Support Dorset assigned carer ID number. If you're not sure what this is, please call Carer Support Dorset on 0800 368 8349.

You will also need to upload a head and shoulders photo of yourself. If you need help with completing the form online, your local Digital Champion can help. Call Verwood Library on 01202 822972 to book a FREE session.

Events for Carers

Why not join our local Social Prescribing Team at one of our monthly Carer Afternoon Teas, and enjoy a friendly chat or receive useful support and advice.

All carers (and cared for) registered with any of the surgeries in our network are welcome!

For more information, please call or text Rachel on 07462 521670, Kate on 07462 050616 or email cranevalleysocialprescribers@dorsetgp.nhs.uk

Scroll down for our 2025 Carer Event dates.

Dementia Coordinator Service

Many people living with Dementia feel that having support along their journey will maximise independent living and prevent a crisis.

The Dementia Coordinator Service, delivered by Help & Care, is committed to supporting people to live well with Dementia.

The service is available to everyone across Dorset, age 18 and over, including support for immediate carers and loved ones.

Once a diagnosis has been confirmed, the Memory Assessment Service will make a referral to a Dementia Coordinator at Dorset Healthcare. However, Help and Care will accept self-referrals and referrals from GPs and other stakeholders as long as a diagnosis of Dementia is confirmed.

Help and Care work in partnership with Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Dorset and Age UK, as an integral part of the Dementia Services Pathway for Dorset.

For more information, download and view this Help and Care leaflet or visit their website by following this link>> www.helpandcare.org.uk/services/dementia-coordinator-service

Help the Carer's voice to be heard.

Consider joining our Patient Participation Group to to influence the service which the GP Practice gives to Carers in the community.

The Cranborne Practice Patient Participation Group (PPG) is formed of people from a variety of backgrounds, who each bring something different to the group. Its members are volunteer patients who work with the managers and clinicians at The Cranborne Practice and Lake Road Surgery to support and promote the best possible health care for all patients.

Find out more about our PPG and how to join on our Patient Participation Group web page by following this link>>

Social Prescribing and Well-being Services

For many people, circumstances beyond the purely medical such as fatigue, grief, isolation, loneliness, finances, or their role as a carer, can affect their health. In addition, long term conditions such as anxiety, depression and pain can give rise to additional worries, issues and needs.

Social Prescribing can help with things that can't be fixed by doctors and medicine alone.

There are lots of ways you might be part of Social Prescribing It often starts with a conversation, perhaps with one of our GPs who can refer you to someone who can help: a link worker, support broker or a community navigator.What they are called, they are there to listen to you and put you in touch with the people and activities that might help you to feel better.

At its most basic, a social prescription offers the kind of help that doesn’t come in a tube or a bottle.The idea behind Social Prescribing is to help you have more control over your health and find ways to improve how you feel in a way that suits you.That might mean being introduced to a community group, a new activity or volunteers to help around the house. On the other hand, it might be information and guidance: a bit of inside knowledge on your situation and what local resources are available.It could even be some support to create something new such as a fishing group or gardening club.

For more information about Social Prescribing, visit the Crane Valley Primary Care Network Social Prescribing page by following this link:>>

Download and view a copy of the leaflet about the Social Prescribing Service here:>>

The Cranborne Practice Tracker Service

The Cranborne Practice has been running Tracker for many years now, keeping an eye on any vulnerable Patients within the Practice.

By vulnerable we mean anyone living alone, caring for someone, elderly, suffering from a debilitating illness or just not coping….anyone needing support and help which could cover medical, social and psychological.

Our Tracker service liaises with other agencies to ensure appropriate care and support is provided, and this has managed to keep many patients out of hospital, thus freeing hospital admissions for more acute conditions.

Anyone with concerns about a vulnerable person who belongs to the Practice can refer them to the Tracker Service. Lots of the Tracker work is carried out as advice over the phone, but home visits are catered for if the need arises.

Our Tracker lead is Lolly Goddard. For more information or to refer someone, please contact us.

NHS Links

There is a wealth of information on the NHS website about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.

A guide to care and support
Information for carers and people who have care & support needs.
Caring for someone
Advice on providing care, medicines etc.
Care after hospital
Providing care for people who have been recently discharged from hospital.
Taking a break
Caring for someone can be a full-time job - find out about accessing breaks and respite care.
Support and benefits for carers

Caring for someone can be a full-time job - find out about accessing breaks and respite care.
Work and Disability

Guidance, support and help with employment issues.

Being a Young carer

Advice for carers 18 or under and their entitlement to support

Finance and Law

Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.

Benefits for carers
Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role
Benefits for the under-65s
Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to.
Benefits for the over-65s
Advice and information on financial support for older people with a disability or illness.
Carer's Assement

How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits
Other benefits
Advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring

Page last reviewed: 21 June 2025
Page created: 13 April 2023

Carers Support

Do you provide support to a friend, relative or neighbour who would not manage without it?

STEP ONE: Are you a Carer? Let us know by completing and submitting the form below.

Tell Us You Are a Carer form

STEP TWO: Contact Your Local Carer Support Service

Bridgit - the quick and easy online support tool

More about the Brigit tool

Further information for Carers

Scroll down for more sources of information that you may find helpful as a Carer.