If you provide unpaid support to a family member, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without your help, the NHS and other organisations may refer to you as a carer.

You could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental ill-health, autism, a learning disability or drug and/or alcohol problems.

On this page you'll find information and resources that are helpful if you're a carer for someone who uses our services.

 

As someone who provides unpaid support and care to a family member, friend or neighbour you may be entitled to help and support in your own right. This may include a carers assessment which can lead to practical and financial support. If you are in work, you also have employment rights. Read more about the support available.

 

Local authorities and charities across our patch offer carer services. Click and the links to find out more:

Bury

Rochdale

Oldham

Stockport

Tameside and Glossop

Manchester

Carer support map

Our carer support team have created an interactive map of local help for carers.

These booklets provide helpful information about our wards and units, the care and treatment offered and what you can expect from us. They also provide useful information about practical arrangements and where you can gain support for yourself.

Adult Inpatient Wards

Rehabilitation and High Support Services

We are proud to be a member of the national Triangle of Care scheme and in 2023 retained our one star membership. This means we are meeting, or working to meet, a set of standards and criteria to best support and involve carers.   

The six key standards are:

  1. Carers and the essential role they play are identified at first contact or as soon as possible thereafter.
  2. Staff are ‘carer aware’ and trained in carer engagement strategies.
  3. Policy and practice protocols re. confidentiality and sharing information are in place.
  4. Defined post(s) responsible for carers are in place.
  5. A carer introduction to the service and staff is available, with a relevant range of information across the care pathway.
  6. A range of carer support services is available.

Read more about the Triangle of Care. 


Join our Triangle of Care groups

We hold regular meetings in each of our care hubs (boroughs) where carers and staff work together to oversee and develop how we support and involve carers. If you would like to know more or you are interested in joining one of our meetings, please contact the involvement team on 0161 716 3572 or email involvement.penninecare@nhs.net 

 

We've made a short video with Dementia United to explain how speech and language therapy can help people diagnoses with primary progressive aphasia (PPA).

PPA is a rare form of dementia that often affects your communication. From using your phone to make reminders, to carrying a small notebook with important phrases, there's plenty of things you can do to support yourself. Click here to watch the video.

Our Stockport older people's mental health team have worked with carers to develop a series of videos, with advice and infomation about frontotemporal dementia.

Frontotemporal dementia is an uncommon type of dementia that causes problems with behaviour and language.

These videos are in three parts, each featuring stories from carers of people with frontotemporal dementia, along with advice from our experts. Click on the links to watch them on YouTube:

More information

These links have more helpful information, related to what's mentioned in the videos:

This leaflet has been developed by people with dementia and their carers, alongside health professionals in Oldham, to help you have difficult conversations about death and the end of life.

It uses cartoons by award-winning illustrator, Tony Husband, to address some of the common questions you have, the barriers you might face, what you can do to help, and the support that’s available.

Click here to download the leaflet.

Wards and services

Contact details for specific wards and services can be found on our service directory pages, or by using the search bar.

PALS

Our patient advice and liaison service (PALS) can act on your behalf and provide confidential advice and support.

They can give you information on:

  • the NHS and health related matters
  • complaints procedures and how to get in touch with someone who can help
  • how you can get involved in our work
  • volunteering opportunities with us

Tel: 0161 716 3183 (24 hour answer phone)

Email: pals.penninecare@nhs.net
 

Mental health helpline

Our 24/7 mental health helpline is here to support anybody who uses our services (all ages) and their carers: 0800 014 9995

There are also a list of other helplines you can speak to for support.

The Triangle of Care member logo