Family and Carer Support Links

AICA represents member organisations around the country who are helping people decide on the best choice of care. AICA can put individuals in touch with a local Care Adviser, a member of the Association abiding by its Code of Practice, who will guide them through all the options of care, whether it be for convalescence, home care or long-term residential or nursing care.

AICA appreciates that choosing appropriate care and obtaining all the facts is not easy. Care Advisers have the information required to lead individuals through choices. Members of AICA are independent and always act in the best interests of their clients and families to help them make the right decision. Advice is available whether or not someone is expecting to pay privately for care. Members help to provide the best possible understanding of the choices for anyone in need of care. This could be at home, in sheltered housing, or in a residential or nursing home. AICA can provide names and addresses of members covering different parts of the country.

Carers UK (formerly the Carers National Association) aims to help anyone who is caring for a sick, disabled or elderly, frail friend or relative at home. Carers UK provides an information and advice service for carers; a regular newsletter Caring; and has a network of local support branches run by carers themselves throughout the UK. Contact the CarersLine for details of your nearest branch.

Carers UK works with professionals who work with carers and aims to encourage carers to recognise their own needs and bring carers needs and problems to the attention of the media and government. The organisation has campaigned effectively for new legislation and continues to do so whilst monitoring the implementation of existing legislation.

Crossroads is committed to providing practical support where it is most needed, in the home. Trained Carer Support Workers go into carers' homes to take over caring tasks, giving the carer an essential break and 'time to themselves'. Crossroads through a network of 190 schemes in England and Wales is able to support over 31,000 carers each year by offering in excess of 4.1 million care hours.

The Trust supports a national network of Carers Centres where carers of all kinds can obtain advice, information and support. Telephone the national office for details of your nearest centre.

Part of Life can set up a private web site for you that can help communication between families, friends and carers of the seriously ill. The website offers those who need to focus their time and attention on caring for someone the opportunity to keep others up-to date via an inexpensive and totally private website service. Once established the site acts as a contact and focal point for friends and family.

The Relatives and Residents Association has the following aims.

• To offer support and information to families, friends and residents about issues affecting Care Homes or Nursing Homes.
• To further an active partnership between relatives and Homes
• To spread good practice in residential and nursing care and influence policy and standards.

The following services are offered.

• National helpline on number above for queries on finding a Home, paying fees, concerns about care involving relatives and residents in Homes.
• Local support groups across the UK. A place for relatives and friends to meet and share experiences and work actively to improve care for residents.
• Membership - regular newsletters with views from other relatives and residents and latest news on developments in Homes. An annual conference is organised.
• Training, consultancy and information services for Residential and Nursing Homes in the voluntary and private sectors and NHS continuing care provision, and to local authorities and NHS Trusts.

The Association's publications include the following.

• Setting up relatives' groups in Homes.
• I have come to visit my wife - a personal view.
• On being the relative of someone in a Home.
• Guilt.
• Involving Relatives and Friends: A good practice guide for Homes for older people.
• Gardening in Homes.

CNA is the national voice of carers in the UK. Our work involves...

• raising awareness at all levels of government and society of the needs of carers and ensuring action is taken to support them.
• helping carers become more aware of their own role and status in the community.
• providing information, advice and support to carers, enabling them to make their own choices about providing care.
• co-operates with primary healthcare teams, helping them to recognise and support carers in their surgeries.
• believes that carers who want to continue in paid work should be encouraged to do so. We offer companies advice and training on developing carer-friendly policies.
• is pressing for guaranteed respite breaks for carers, at times that are right for the carer and the person they care for.

The Institute provides clinical services to families and couples who are experiencing relationship difficulties. Services include therapy, consultation, training, family mediation and an organisation stress service.

Social Services

The service coordinates activity and development on carers' issues across the statutory and voluntary networks in Haringey. The Carers Development Manager:

• provides a link to the care management teams
• commissions new services
• helps to deliver the multi-agency Carers Strategy
• gives advice to individual carers
• makes referrals for carers' assessments to care management teams
• mediates on behalf of carers who have difficulty in accessing services
• signposts carers to "low level" services and benefits available to all carers.

Based at the Winkfield Resource Centre in Wood Green, the centre provides support, advice, information and social activities for carers.

Family Support Links

• Addaction
• Quarriers
• HITS (UK) Family Support Network
• Part of Life
• Runaway Helpline
• National Association of Toy & Leisure Libraries
• National Family and Parenting Institute - NFPI
• National Society for Children and Family Contacts
• Kith & Kids (disability/family support)
• Father's Direct
• Sure Start
• Care For The Family
• Gifted Monthly (gifted children)
• Grandparents' Association
• Message Home
• MATCH - Mothers Apart from Their CHildren
• Special Needs Information Point (Scotland)
• ENABLE Scotland (learning disabilities)
• CHARGE Family Support Group
• Henry Spink Foundation (for families with children with severe disabilities)
• HopeLine Videos
• Rainbow Trust Children's Charity
• Sick Children's Trust
• One Parent Families