The Carers Service is for the carers of Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust patients who are in receipt of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), learning disabilities services or adult/older adult mental health services in the Sandwell area. A carer can be a relative or friend of the patient.

  • Carers Assessment

All carers caring for a BCHFT patient will be offered their own assessment. This will identify the help you require. The assessment is to help you stay well so that you can continue caring safely.

  • Care plan

During the assessment you will have an opportunity to tell us exactly what you do on a day to day basis to help your relative or friend. The care plan will include things to help you carry out your caring role more easily for example: help with benefits, housing, medication; the care plan is individual to your needs.

  • Education

Too often carers tell us that they do not understand the illness or its treatments. If at the assessment you tell us this, we will arrange for either group or one to one psycho/educational sessions. These sessions are specifically aimed at carers.

  • Universal Offer

Information and advice will be offered to all carers. The information will vary from carer to carer based on your individual needs.

  • Advocacy

Carers tell us that they often feel alone, confused and unsure on what to do once they become a carer. We will advocate on your behalf. We will help to empower you to have your say; this could be at ward rounds, outpatients or any other appointment specific to your caring responsibilities.

  • Time-based service

Once assessed you will be allocated a keyworker who will jointly agree your care plan and together you will work through identified needs. This will be offered over 12 sessions. After the 12 sessions you will exit the service.

  • What happens after the time-based service?

You will be offered the opportunity to access:

- Peer support in the community
- Invitation to attend an established carers forum (bi-monthly)
- You can be put on a mailing list to receive a bi-monthly carers newsletter
- Offered to be referred to Sandwell Cope (a self-help carers group)

Referral forms:

Internal BCHFT Referral / Self referral Form
Internal BCHFT Crisis Service can refer by telephone: 0121 612 6000

GP Referral Form

 

What happens once referred?

Crisis team referrals
Will be responded to within 24 hours, Monday – Friday or 72 hours over weekends and Bank Holidays.

Community Team Referrals
Access to one to one support will be offered within 14 working days on receipt of referral.

Self-referrals
Carers can only self-refer if the cared for person is currently open to a BCHFT service. Self-referrals will be seen within 14 days or 72 hours if it is a crisis situation.

Universal information
Access to the universal information will be offered within 7 working days upon receipt of referral.

Sandwell Crisis Team (for mental health): 0121 543 4100
Sandwell CAMHS Crisis Team: 0121 612 6620 

Sandwell Mental Health Liaison Service based at A+E Department Sandwell General Hospital: 0121 507 3258

 

Social Services:
Adults Services - (9AM - 5PM) - 0121 569 2266
Children Services - (9AM - 5PM) - 0121 569 3100
Emergency Duty Team - (5PM - 9AM) -  0121 569 2355
Sandwell COPE (Carers self-help group) - Telephone: 07530 507470 - Email: sandwellcope@hotmail.co.uk

The Sandwell Carers Service is located at:
Bristnall Hall Road
Oldbury
B68 9TX
Tel: 0121 612 6000

Working hours: Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm.
(The service can provide planned out of hours work for working carers)

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