Help for those affected by others' use of drugs or alcohol
The Carers' Peer Support Service offers friendly, informal but confidential support to families and carers of people with substance misuse issues. Manchester City Council's Directorate for Adults manages the service, with oversight from Manchester City Council's Drug and Alcohol Strategy Team.
The service is distinctive in being provided for carers by carers and others with close personal experience of substance misuse to:
- be a link between a) carers and families and b) services that can help them;
- provide emotional support to carers and families;
- refer and encourage carers and families to engage with services;
- accompany carers and families to services when they need support to engage;
- provide a pack of information to carers and families, and then discuss the content as a non-professional peer;
- not provide help and support beyond this role. Therefore not socialising, giving medical advice, nor other forms of 'support' such as money, child care, domestic work, etc..
Carers can refer themselves into the service, or they can be referred by any organisation they are in touch with.
When a referral is received the Carers' Development Worker will speak to both the referrer and the carer to carry out :
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an initial assessment of need;
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a risk assessment;
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the process of matching the carer to a Peer Supporter;
Once a carer and Peer Supporter are matched, the Carers' Development Worker will arrange to meet with the carer and introduce them to the Peer Supporter.
The Peer Supporter will:
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agree with the carer how often they can meet up;
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aim to meet the carer at a convenient location for them;
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listen to the carer and give them the opportunity to talk about how their life has been affected by someone else's substance misuse;
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help the carer to look at the different options of support available to them.
The service is confidential and all Peer Supporters are trained, CRB-checked and fully supervised.
Peer Supporters can support a carer for a maximum of 2 hours per week for a period of six months. If once a carer's case is closed, the carer would like to re-access the service, a new referral must be made via the Carers' Development Worker.
For further information or to make a referral, please contact:
Michelle Kennedy, Carers' Development Worker, Phone: 0161 203 2274; Mobile: 07507 886618