It’s a free service open to anyone registered with us in Bath and North East Somerset, irrespective of age or the needs of the person being cared for.
Meet our team!
We couldn’t carry out our vital work without our talented team!
We catch up with Laura, our brilliant Carer Support Officer, who explains a little bit about her role and how she could help you plan for the 'what ifs' that come with caring...
Hi Laura, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Sure! I’ve been part of the Support Line team here at The Carers’ Centre for three years now. I’m also a qualified mental health nurse which really helps with my role. Out of work, I’m happiest spending time with my family and friends, and exploring the nearby countryside!
What do you like about working for The Carers’ Centre?
First and foremost, it’s the people. I’m lucky to work with a brilliant group of supportive colleagues and the most rewarding part of my job is helping people who reach out to us. Over the years I also think we’ve built a really strong sense of community which I love. We want people to think of us as an extension of their support network.
What's the favourite part of your job?
Talking to people who call our Support Line and giving them the best possible support or advice. Being able to make a meaningful difference to someone means a lot to me, even if it’s just by being a listening ear.
Is there anything new you're working on right now?
A new part of my role is to help people plan for the ‘what ifs’ that come with caring. What if someone becomes ill and can’t continue caring? What if there’s an emergency? For that reason, I’m now offering free 1-to-1 emergency planning sessions to help our community plan for the unexpected.
Sounds interesting, can you tell us a bit more?
Absolutely! We know that when people are busy looking after someone else, it can be hard to find the time to plan for the unexpected. It’s also not a particularly nice thing to have to think about.
The session are held over the phone and we talk in confidence about the person you look after; their condition, medical needs, who are their important contacts and so on. This allows me work with you to write up a plan to ensure the person you care for would be safe if you were suddenly unable to continue caring for them.
We’ve had really positive feedback from the sessions - it’s helped put people’s minds at ease knowing they have back up arrangements in place.
What do you wish more people knew?
We know that many people who look after someone don’t know where to turn to for help and advice. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been caring for someone for many years or if you’re completely new to caring, we are here when you need us.
Emergency Planning FAQs
How do I book?
To arrange an emergency planning session with Laura, please get in touch today!