Contact Us

01305 251033

[email protected]

  Helping Carers to be heard

The needs of carers are not always understood or respected. Advocates can help carers to get the services and support they are entitled to.

To get help, or to find out more, please call 0300 343 7000.

Advocacy for carers in Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole

If you regularly act as an unpaid carer for someone in these areas, or are about to do so, and want help to speak up about your support needs, we may be able to provide an advocate to support you:

* If you have significant difficulty in communicating with your local authority for the purpose of an assessment of your needs, developing a support plan, or undergoing a review of your support, and you have no one to help you, you are entitled to an advocate under the terms of the Care Act

* Even if you do not meet the conditions for Advocacy under the Care Act, we may still be able to help you to speak up, find out information, or secure better support.

Support for family carers of people with learning disabilities in Bournemouth and Poole

Dorset Advocacy has been commissioned to provide an extended family carer support service in Bournemouth and Poole. The scheme gives family members who are involved in caring for someone with learning disabilities the opportunity to find out about useful services and opportunities, to share experiences with other carers and receive support, and to contribute to the development of new services across the two boroughs.

Return to Get Help page

My role is to ensure that family carers are involved in the planning, development and monitoring of services for people with learning disabilities and wider carer support services.

The service works to ensure that people receive good quality advice and information at no cost to the individual.

As a family support worker I specifically ensure that the voice and experiences of family carers is effectively represented through membership of the Learning Disability Partnership Board and its working groups, providing an” expert “local carers perspective within statutory health and social care and support.

I meet regularly with family carers to seek their views about current local and national issues. This is through individual discussion and a bi monthly Carers Forum and specific consultation and focus groups as necessary.

Overall the my role means that I work closely with other organisations and groups in working to improve life chances for people with learning disabilities and those who care for them.

Ruth Crook

Dorset Advocacy