A Carers Forum on 22nd October, will help shape a new Carers’ Strategy for Lambeth
Members of Lambeth council, as well as commissioners and representatives from carers’ organisation will attend the Forum, at The Hideaway, 225 Streatham High Road, Streatham, SW16 6EN from 11am-3pm. There will be a buffet lunch and opportunities to network. You need to book a place – please call the Carers Hub Enquiry Line on 020 7346 6800.
“We want to co-produce a plan that will make sure carers are at the heart of how Lambeth provides care and support to people,” says Ruth Samuel, encouraging people to sign up for the event. While the event is for all carers, Ruth as the Mental Health Carers Advice, Support Development Worker at Carers Hub Lambeth, knows that mental health carers often need particular support.
“I help people who having a caring role for someone with a mental illness. Most people I work with are looking after a relative or partner,” explains Ruth who has been in post for 6? months. “Lots of the carers I work with also have mental health problems themselves. I talk to people to find out what they are looking for and then I can offer support including advice, emotional support, advocacy and information about events and groups.”
Previously, Ruth worked at the Rethink Mental Illness Advice Service and at Southwark Carers and ” I’ve had caring roles for family members. This helps me to understand people’s situations and the different options available to help, ” she says.
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Further opportunities for carers
A coaching training course is coming up for carers who look after someone treated under SLaM services. It is delivered by SLaM partners and helps carers to use coaching skills in their conversations. The course is perfect for you if you feel like at the moment your conversations don’t go the way you want them to go, or you feel like you are walking on eggshells around the person you care for.
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Click here to discover how carer Roger Oliver helped to shape this course
World Mental Heath Day October 10
Heralding the run-up to the day there will be a carers’ meditation and relaxation evening on 7 October at Mosaic Clubhouse (65 Effra Road, Brixton) from 6-8pm. It is run by Carers Hub Lambeth and it is for people who have a caring role for someone with mental Health issues. If you’d like to come please call Ruth on 020 7501 8974.
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There is also an event to raise awareness of the day for carers/parents who are caring for young people with neurodevelopmental disorders (such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD) who also have a range of mental health difficulties. This will be an excellent opportunity for carers of young people to attend workshops of mindfulness, relaxation and carer sleep.
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