Family resources

A trusted guide to help you navigate services, access support and feel supported as a carer.

Hello, my name is Sam Radford, and I am the Family Liaison Officer with Jessie May.

I bring personal lived experience as both a young carer and an adult family carer, alongside a 40‑year career in adult care – supporting people from transition years through to older adulthood across Health & Social Care, Independent Advocacy, Care Act Advocacy and Carers Support.

My role at Jessie May is to help you navigate the challenges you face as a parent carer. This may include:

Supporting you to liaise and engage with social care professionals
Helping you self‑advocate, or connecting you with advocacy partners
Signposting and referring you to carers support, parent carer networks and events
Sharing information to ensure your voices and experiences are heard and help shape change locally

This page has been created with you in mind – a place to find resources in your area, as well as national support that may help you in your caring role. of information to ensure your voices and experiences are heard and shape change through the local community and providers.

Please note: If the need is urgent, please phone our team on 0117 9582172 or email Sam, after you have made the request we can action urgently.

Contact Sam

FAQ

Your GP is probably aware you’re a parent carer, if they have not made this connection, it will be worth alerting them to this for many reasons.

Support for you through an annual health check

Support for the child you care for – double appointments if needed

Support for your wider family

The Health and Care Act 2022 contain four key provisions in relation to unpaid carers:

Section 10: Places a duty on NHS England to consult carers and other representatives regarding commissioning or policy decisions which affect service provision and delivery.

Section 25: Places a duty on Integrated Care Boards to promote the involvement of unpaid carers, where appropriate, in relation to decisions about prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.

Section 25: Places a duty on Integrated Care Boards to consult carers in commissioning or policy decisions affecting services.

Section 91: Places a duty on NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts to involve carers, where appropriate, in planning for hospital discharge as soon as is feasible.

The Children and Families Act 2014 protects children, as well as offering specific protection to young carers and parent-carers of disabled children (including those with a long-term condition). It specifies that local authorities must meet their duties to identify, assess and support young carers, young adult carers and their families.

The Care Act 2014 requires local councils to assess unpaid carers, provide support to meet their needs, and promote carer-wellbeing. Duties also include providing information, advice, and support to prevent carers from developing further support needs. Local councils also have a duty to involve unpaid carers in the design of services that affect them.

The Carer’s Leave Act 2023 makes provision for employees who balance work with unpaid caring responsibilities to take up to one week of unpaid carer’s leave per year, if providing or arranging care for someone with a long-term care need

To build your parent carer community

To increase confidence

To share your experiences and concerns, ensuring that your voices are heard in decision making processes locally.

To shape service delivery to better meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

To raise awareness of issues faced, to foster unity and community.

Access to guest speakers, activities and access to resources.

Each year Carers Uk, run a nation campaign, State of Caring.

This is an important campaign to gather research into the lives and experiences of unpaid carers, which includes parent carers.

This evidence is used by the Government, charities and various organisations.

Alongside this survey, Carers UK run Carers Week, Carers Right Day and share carers stories. They also actively

They also provide advice, support, your rights in work, signposting and work hard to actively promote the interests of carers, and their voices, to Government and politicians from across Parliament.

Find a full selection of resources below, from financial support to cinema passes. This is also a live page, with updates often so please do refer back.

We have also taken a look at some relevant upcoming dates for your diary – please follow the link.

Dates for your diary

Financial Support for Carers

Carers Wellbeing Grant (Parent Carers of Children Under 18)

A one‑off payment to support parent carers’ wellbeing so they can continue caring for their child.
Availability varies by local authority.

Bristol example:

Bristol Wellbeing Grant

Carers Assessments (Adult Carers Supporting Adults 18+)

Carers Assessments (Adult Carers Supporting Adults 18+)

A Carer’s Assessment looks at your caring role and what support you may need. Some areas offer a one‑off payment (e.g., up to £300 in Bristol, £200 in South Glos). A full assessment may lead to direct payments for complex caring roles.

Useful guides:

Age UK

NHS Guide

Carer’s Assessment Checklist