The Community Council of Shropshire employs a specialist Link Officer, Flick Pennal, to support and promote the role of family carers of adults with learning difficulties in Shropshire. The Link Officer's post is funded by Shropshire County Council. The purpose of the role is to act as a link between carers and statutory agencies to increase awareness of the needs of family carers and improve the services that are available to them. You can contact Flick Pennal on 01939 211006.
The Link Officer manages a team of three Older Family Carer Support Workers (OFCSW) who work with family carers of adults with learning disabilities over the age of 65.
The OFCSW team is:
- Julie Apted (Oswestry and North Shropshire) - 01743 851074
- Jools Bott (Shrewsbury and Atcham) - 01743 850578
- Hail Bonella Foster (Bridgnorth and South Shropshire) - 01952 276056
Their role includes:
- Carer's assessments and their outcomes
- Practical support such as arranging for someone from the Handyman scheme to repair fence or collect a prescription
- Emotional support such as taking an elderly partner to visit a relative in hospital or walks with a family carer diagnosed with dementia to help overcome depression
- Referrals to other agencies, working in partnership with Local Authorities
- Pampering days
- Shopping trips to places like Chester or the local garden centre
Your local OFCSW will:
- Visit or contact you regularly to build up trust
- Help you plan for the future, such as making a will
- Help you complete a 'life plan'
- Help you complete a 'life book'
- Involve your family in planning
- Provide a link with other services
- Reduce isolation for family carers
This page was last updated on: 12th April 2006