in Barnet we…
Think Carer
Identifying our invisible carers
Our new campaign aims to get more people recognising themselves as carers and to enable them to get the help and support that they might need.
We also want professionals who might come across carers regularly to Think Carer and to help refer and signpost them to the help and support that is available across the borough.
Getting Barnet to THINK Carer
Carers have an integral role in the Barnet community, and to our health and social care system. Carers make an invaluable contribution, and we know that without carers, many people living and working in our communities would not be able to continue to do so.
Evidence shows that carers have poorer health outcomes than the non-carer population, but that early identification of carers can improve health and wellbeing. We know that not all carers would consider themselves to be carers, so it is important for us to be proactive in identifying and offering support to carers.
We have a clear vision for working with carers and young carers, as reflected in our Carers and Young Carers Strategy, and a strong local offer led by our commissioned provider Barnet Carers Centre.
In Barnet we Think Carer, and encourage services and partners to identify carers in order to help support better health and wellbeing. As a partnership, we must work together to do our duty to identify carers who need our help early and ensure they are offered the right support.
With your help, we can make sure every carer is seen, heard and accessing the support they need to continue to provide care, look after themselves and access support when needed.
Martin Quilter
Carer Representative
Carers Engagement Board
Dawn Wakeling
Executive Director, Communities,
Adults and Health
London Borough of Barnet
Mike Rich
Chief Executive
Barnet Carers
National Carer Organisations
Useful Links
Find out more about organisations that can support carers in Barnet and download resources that you can send to carers
Refer a Carer
Use our simple online form to refer a carer into our services. We can then arrange for registration and a Carers Needs Assessment
Carers rights
Unpaid carers leave
In 2024, the Carer’s Leave Act became law – giving employees juggling work with unpaid care the legal right to up to five days unpaid leave per annum. This will help many carers manage some of the day-to-day challenges they face – and help them stay in employment.
Requesting flexible working
If you are juggling work with your caring responsibilities, you have the right to request flexible working. The introduction of the new Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act means that anyone, including unpaid carers, can ask their employer for changes to their working hours, times of work, or place of work, from day one. They will also be able to change their flexible working arrangement more than once a year, which will be a huge help too.
Your GP should identify you as a carer
If you provide unpaid care, you can ask your GP practice to identify you as a carer on your patient record. The benefit of this is that you may then fall into a priority group for vaccines or other public health campaigns. Carers UK has information on how to talk to your GP – and even provides a useful letter template to download and use.
right and choice to get a free flu jab
As a carer, it’s important to look after your health and wellbeing and one way is to exercise your right to request a free flu jab, if you’d like to. If you are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be put at risk if you became ill, or if you are in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, you should be offered a free flu jab
Protection against discrimination and harassment
If you look after an older or disabled person, the law (Equality Act 2010) protects you against direct discrimination or harassment because of your caring responsibilities. (In Northern Ireland, carers are protected under the Human Rights Act and Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act). You may also be protected under other laws, including disability or sex discrimination legislation.
the right to a Carers Assessment
Like many carers, you may find it easier to continue in your caring role if you can get some support and assistance. If it appears that you have needs for support, you can request to have a carer’s assessment done. In Scotland, this is usually referred to as an adult carer support plan and in Wales it is often called a carer’s needs assessment. If you’re over 18 and provide regular unpaid care for someone, you’re entitled to a carer’s assessment – it doesn’t matter how much or what sort of care you provide.
the right to be consulted when the person you care for is discharged from hospital
If you are a carer and the person you care for is being discharged from hospital, the hospital must identify and consult with you, where possible.
Support for Carers in Barnet
Barnet Carers provides support for carers across the borough and you can find more details of the services that we currently offer here. Many other organisations also offer support to carers. We have created a directory of organisations that can help and that carers can be referred to. Use the button below to access the directory.
Order a Think Carer Pack here. Email us your name and address and we will put a pack of materials in the post for you.
