Crossroads Care Essex becomes our Charity of the Year
Pinney Talfourd LLP Solicitors are pleased to announce that we have chosen Crossroads Care Essex as our charity of the year.
After many excellent suggestions by staff members it was difficult to agree on just one charity when all deserved so much credit and could benefit from additional fundraising and support.
It was finally agreed by the Partners that the work of Crossroads Care Essex is a fantastic cause which offers a much needed service to the often forgotten people in a 'care' situation - the carer.
Pinney Talfourd have already pledged to donate £1 for every satisfaction questionnaire completed by our clients and will be holding fundraising events and challenges throughout the year to help Crossroads Care continue their work.
More About Crossroads Care Essex
What does a Crossroads Scheme do?
Crossroads offers practical support to Carers, those people looking after a dependent, relative, or friend living at home. Trained Carer Support Workers take over the Carer's role to give the Carer a short break as and when it is most needed. Crossroads Schemes cover every age group and every form of disability.
Who is a 'Carer'?
A Carer is the person taking over primary responsibility in the home for the care of the person who needs continuous care because of a mental or physical illness or because they are frail and mentally ill through ageing. The Carer's life is restricted by the need to be on call most of the day and night because the person they look after cannot be safely left alone. A Carer is often under physical and emotional strain through the demanding work of caring for someone heavily dependent upon them. They might be trying to hold down a paid job as well, and have other family commitments.
Carers are often elderly people themselves, looking after a spouse. They can also be, for example, young parents of a child with a learning disability, a middle aged daughter looking after an ageing parent, or a young person caring for a partner injured through an accident or with multiple sclerosis or other disabling conditions. Young Carers support parents or siblings with care needs and balance the pressures of school, peer group and anxiety.
Carer Support Workers
Carer Support Workers are locally recruited people who work usually part-time for Crossroads. They are paid on an hourly basis. Some of them will have worked as carer support workers or nurses; all receive training on joining Crossroads and regular on-going training sessions are arranged. The most important aspect of training is that given by the Carer who is being helped, so that the carer support worker knows the needs of the individual she/he is helping and can follow as closely as possible the routine of the main Carer.
What do Carer Support Workers do?
Carer Support Workers go into people's homes in order to relieve the main Carer. In taking over from the Carer they do the work that the Carer would normally be doing. This includes all areas of the care of the person with disabilities as well as the domestic duties that the Carer would normally be doing, such as preparing simple meals. The main Carer is then free to have time for herself/himself.
How much help can Crossroads offer?
Crossroads can offer regular weekly support or an occasional break. The relief care is offered at the time best suited to the family and can be during the day, evenings or at weekends. The Carer can stay at home and be relieved from responsibility (have a quiet family meal or pursue a hobby without interruption) whilst the person they normally care for is taken out by the carer support worker.
The aim is to offer regular help to prevent a breakdown in the health of the Carer occurring. Crossroads tries to offer crisis/emergency help to those families already known to the Scheme.
Referrals
Referrals can be made by anyone, including Carers themselves. Referrals are made to the Care Co-ordinator of the Scheme by telephone or writing. Each family referred is visited by the Respite Care Manager and the needs of the family are assessed. Each family is matched with a suitable carer support worker who, as far as possible, becomes the regular carer support worker for that family.
How to Help
We encourage you to get involved and help us raise as much money as possible for this deserving cause.
If you are a client of ours tell us your views on our service in our Client Lounge and help raise money by completing our satisfaction questionnaire. We will donate £1 for every completed questionnaire received.
Fundraising activities will be posted on our website in due course. Visit this page again soon.
In the meantime we would welcome your suggestions. Email victoria.bunn@pinneytalfourd.co.uk with your fundraising ideas.
