Carers

Find out about community support, respite options and how to request a carer's assessment to get the help you need in your caring role.

If you regularly help someone to live independently, you may be a carer. 

With approximately 28,000 people in Croydon providing unpaid care for family or friends, you are not alone. 

Croydon’s Carer Strategy is about making sure local carers get the help and support they need. We want residents to live healthier and more independent lives. 

Many of our carers have told us they want stronger, more tailored support. 

Community support

Adult social care has community at its heart. We encourage residents to build networks and relationships in the community. 

You can find community groups, activities, services and support through:

Carer’s Allowance

You may be able to get up to £86.45 a week if you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits. 

You do not need to be related to the person you care for or live with them. 

You do not get paid extra payments if you care for more than one person. If someone else also cares for the same person as you, only one of you can claim Carer’s Allowance.

Find out more about Carers Allowance.

Carers card

A carers card shows you have a caring responsibility. It can help you access support services and make it easier to explain your caring role in everyday situations.  

Many visitor attractions and leisure facilities offer unpaid carers discounted or free entry when they are accompanying the person they care for. 

To find discounts, offers and days out for unpaid carer, visit Carers First.

Get a carer's assessment

If you need more support after exploring community opportunities, you can ask for a carer's assessment. This assessment looks at how your caring role affects your wellbeing, including your emotional, physical and mental health.

Following the assessment, you may:

If the adult you care for receives support from Croydon Council 

Ask the person's allocated social worker for a carer’s assessment. 

A carer’s assessment is separate from the assessment and support provided to the person you care for. It focuses on your needs as a carer and will not affect their care and support package.

You can choose not to have a carer's assessment. If you change your mind later, you can request one at any time.

If the adult you care for does not receive support from Croydon Council

You should contact Carers First:

You can also visit the Carer's Support Centre:

24 George Street
Croydon
CR0 1PB

Opening times

  • Carers Café: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10:30am to 12:30pm
  • Advice desk: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10am to 1pm. Closed on Tuesday and Thursday

Young carers

If you are a young carer supporting a Croydon resident who needs help because of an illness, disability or older age, you can request a young carer's assessment from Off the Record Young Carers.

A young carer's assessment looks at the impact your caring role has on your life and the help you may need. It will help you access information, support services and activities, and identify any additional support that would benefit you.

To contact the service:

Parents of disabled children and young people

If you care for a disabled child or young person who has been assessed by Croydon Council as a 'child in need', your child's assessment should consider the needs of your whole family, including your needs as a parent carer.

If you feel your needs are not fully considered during your child's assessment, you can request a Parent Carer Needs Assessment under the Children and Families Act 2014. This assessment is separate from your child's assessment and focuses on the impact that caring has on your wellbeing and daily life.

To request a Parent Carer Needs Assessment, contact the Croydon Council 0 to 25 SEND team on 020 8726 6400.

The team can provide information about the assessment process and the support that may be available to you as a parent carer.

Respite and short breaks

A respite break, sometimes called a short break, is support that gives unpaid carers time away from their caring responsibilities.

Respite support can take different forms, including:

  • someone staying with the person you care for in their home while you take a break
  • the person you care for attending a day service, activity or community programme
  • the person you care for staying somewhere safe and suitable for a short period of time
  • you and the person you care for taking part in activities together with additional support

Taking a break from caring is important. Caring can be rewarding, but it can also be demanding and impact your health and wellbeing. Short breaks can give you time to rest, focus on your own needs and maintain a sustainable caring role.

Some respite support may require a carer's assessment or a social care assessment. These assessments help us understand the support that is needed and agree the right plan. Some community-based support may be available without a full social care assessment.

Find out more about respite care and short breaks.