Aim

The aim of the Carer Respite and Support Service (Carer Respite Centre) is to provide a single accessible point for carers needing information on respite options, or assistance with accessing respite in the Far North Coast Region.

Target Group

Our clients are carers, who:

• Are a family member, parent, partner, friend, neighbour or a significant other.
• Provide regular support on an unpaid basis (this excludes government pensions or benefits), to a person who is frail aged, has dementia, a disability, a chronic, terminal or mental illness.
• Live in the local government areas of Tweed, Ballina, Byron, Clarence, Richmond, Lismore, Casino or Kyogle

Objectives

• To provide flexible short term, planned or emergency respite that meets the needs of the carer and the care recipient when other services are unable to provide the support.
• To link carers to other services that can assist them in their caring role.
• To provide an after hours response for respite when the carer is experiencing an emergency or crisis in their lives.
• To work closely with a broad range of service organisations in the region both funded and private to improve access to respite for carers.

How We Work

Our team of experienced Coordinators provide:

• Referrals to services in the region that are appropriate to meet the ongoing respite or other support needs of carers.
• Coordination of short term, planned or emergency respite with appropriate and relevant services that meet the needs of the carer.
• Short term respite to give the carer a break from the responsibility of the caring role in planned and emergency situations.
• A brokerage model of service, hence will purchase respite from appropriate services within the region on a short term or occasional basis if no alternate means of support can be found.
• Provide an after hours on call service for carers who are in crisis or have an emergency and are no longer able to continue with their caring role.

The Process

Requests for respite may come from a number of different sources, including the carer themselves, a service provider or health professional.

When contacted by the carer we will:

• Discuss with the carer, their needs, the urgency of the situation and the type of service that might meet some or all of those needs.
• Determine whether there are any existing community or health services that would meet the carer’s needs and seek permission to refer to that service.
• If there are no services available at the time the respite is needed other options will be discussed with the carer.
• Try to locate an alternative service, then depending on the situation we will consider purchasing respite for the carer.
• Assess the individual needs and situation of the carer on each contact to the Centre.

When contacted by a health or community service provider we will:

• Discuss the situation with the referrer.
• Determine whether permission has been given by the carer for Centre staff to contact them or ask the referrer to inform the carer to contact the Centre.
• Contact the carer to clarify and discuss the need for respite unless the carer is unable to be contacted due to illness, hospitalisation or other exceptional circumstances.
• Ask for a written referral if the carer and/or care recipient are a client of the referrer and unknown to the Centre.

Who Can Refer Us

• Carers, Care Recipients, Family Members, Community Service Providers, Health Care Workers, General Practitioners (GPs).