Oxford Carers Support Service
Carer support
Oxford Carers Support believes that carers have an invaluable role in helping people recover from mental illness and that they should be acknowledged, valued and supported. We place people who use our services at the centre of everything we do.
We provide high quality services and welcome feedback from service users to constantly develop and improve them. We are a highly experienced team of senior mental health recovery workers, working across Oxfordshire, specialising in supporting carers of people living with a mental illness.
We work closely with Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership, signposting and referring to services and providing a carers course within the Oxfordshire Recovery College.
Statement on the closure of our Oxfordshire Carers Support Service
We are saddened that our Oxfordshire Carers Support Service is closing on 30th April.
In recent years, commissioners across the country have moved away from providing specific services for the carers of people living with a mental illness, replacing them with more generic services that support all carers . While we appreciate the financial pressures local authorities are under and understand the rationale for such decisions, we also know that something is lost when this happens. Caring, in all its many forms, is both rewarding and challenging in equal measure. While all carers share common concerns, the experiences of those caring for someone living with a mental illness can be quite different, and these nuances risk being lost within more generic services.
To compound our sadness, we want to be clear that Rethink Mental Illness did not walk away from this transition. We proactively offered to provide specialist mental health expertise within the new generic service and engaged in good faith throughout. Regrettably, despite our best efforts, we were unable to reach an agreed approach with the new service provider.
Nevertheless, we wish the new service every success and sincerely hope it is able to meet the needs of those in Oxfordshire who care for someone affected by mental illness.
Support Guide - Carers Oxfordshire
If you are a carer seeking support, you can find relevant advice and information on our online Carers hub. You can also find more information from Carers Oxfordshire who provide a free service offering information, advice and personalised support to adult unpaid carers who look after someone living in Oxfordshire. The person you care for can be of any age, and you do not need to live with them. They may need support due to a disability, mental or physical illness, an addiction, or other additional needs.
If you would like to find out about the support available, please contact the team on 01235 424715 or email carersinfo@carersoxfordshire.org.uk. You can also refer yourself via the website: www.carersoxfordshire.org.uk.
What do you think of us?
Friends & Family Test
We really value the feedback of people who come into contact with our service.
You can visit this link to complete one quick question anonymously to let us know your views.
Select South East from the 'Region' drop down box and then select 'Oxford Carers' to enter your feedback.
Alternatively you can give us feedback by
- calling us
- emailing us
- speaking to one of our team in a group or 121 support session
- making a complaint on our website here
The Carers Hub
Rethink Mental Illness was founded by carers of people with mental illness and as a result its really important to us to have easily accessible information that mental health carers need on our website.
You can visit the Rethink Carers Hub webpages that are specifically designed for mental health carers, which have a range of fact-sheets and other information covering topics such as confidentiality for carers, carers assessments, benefits for carers, respite and how to support someone who is suicidal. that is specifically designed for mental health carers here