Outreach/Primary Care Service
About the Outreach/Primary Care Service
The Outreach/Primary Care Worker provides support to carers by offering:
- information
- emotional support, problem solving or just a listening ear
- help in accessing services, equipment or funding
- support in balancing their caring role with their own health needs or in managing activities such as work, learning and leisure.
Here are some examples of how this service supports carers:
- Supporting Carers at Meetings - A worker may accompany and provide support to carers at appeals, meetings, medical consultations and with Council Officers.
- Support in Accessing Information, Services and Benefits - Carers may find it difficult to know where to go for help or to understand what help is available to them. Our Outreach/Primary Care Worker helps carers with this process by supporting the carer in accessing information, services and benefits that they may be entitled to. We provide information on our services in different formats and work with other organisations to help raise awareness about carers and related issues.
- Social Activities and Events - Gateshead Crossroads Caring for Carers arranges social activities and events throughout the year to give carers a break from their caring responsibilities. Some activities are organised for a specific group of carers e.g. parent carers. Others are open to all carers. Events include advice, information, entertainment, buffet lunch, relaxation, blood pressure and health checks and other health and beauty treatments.
- Moving and Assisting Support for Carers- Carers may need to assist the person they care for to mobilise and transfer alone or using equipment such as hoists, and may require support and advice to carry out their role as safely as possible. The Moving and Assistance course shows carers how to handle people safely and therefore prevent a back injury.
- Primary Care in Gateshead -
Being a carer can bring extra stresses to everyday life and may effect a carers health. It is therefore important that they receive advice and support where they most need it. National research identified that GP's and other Health Workers have a very valuable role to play in directing carers to support services. Therefore we aim to raise the awareness of carers amongst local GP surgeries and to assist them in identifying carers within their practice.
As this area of work is strengthened carers will become aware of posters and leaflets in GP practices offering them the opportunity to have noted on patient records that they are a carer. You can download a Carers Leaflet to give to your GP requesting that they note this information on your file. - If you work for a GP practice you can download our information pack Identifying and Supporting Carers for more information.
- We can also help carers to co-ordinate a discharge from hospital, the provision of appropriate support at home, the prevention of a breakdown in care and a decrease of emergency admissions to hospital.
- Further Information
Gateshead Crossroads can provide information, in different formats, to carers to help them in their caring role. To obtain information you can telephone, write in, e-mail, fax or visit us here at Gateshead Crossroads. Contact Us. You can also submit an online enquiry form for information via this website.
You can make a referral yourself by contacting us. We also receive referrals from statutory and voluntary agencies on your behalf.
Download Professional Information