The Carers Matter Norfolk Advice Line provides free, independent and confidential support, and many have personal lived experience of caring. It is free to call our Advice Line on 0800 083 1148 from both landline and mobile telephones.
If we identify you will benefit from additional support such as a carer’s assessment, counselling, access to the health and wellbeing fund, or a break from your caring role, we will refer you to one of our Family Carer Practitioners who can support you further and your carers assessment will be with them.
A carer’s assessment is your opportunity to discuss with Carers Matter Norfolk what support or services you need. The assessment will look at how caring affects your life, including, for example, physical, mental and emotional needs, and whether you are able or willing to carry on caring. Click here to find out more.
The Carers Matter Norfolk Advice Line can provide information and guidance on a wide range of issues such as
- Accessing local services and support, including Carer Peer Support Groups, dementia cafes or other local social activities or services
- Carers’ rights (including employment)
- Accessing health and social care services
- Social welfare (benefits) and housing
- Equipment and adaptations, including Assistive Technology
- Education, volunteering and training
- Emergency Planning
For benefits and legal advice, our advisers would be able to signpost you to the most relevant people.
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 9am – 5pm*
*If you need an out of hours call, please contact us so we can arrange this with you. You can email or leave a message on our voicemail out of hours.
Call our team of Carer Advisors on 0800 083 1148 for
- Information & Guidance
- Access to Peer Support
- Support with online form filling (e.g. Carers Emergency Plans)
Our Carer Advisors have a wealth of knowledge on the services available across Norfolk to support you and those you care for. The Advice Line Team can refer internally within Carers Matter Norfolk to Community Support, Education & Training and Carers Voice. In addition, they will signpost or refer you to other services and support which help to achieve what matters to you.
Carer Advisors will take some basic details to find out more about your caring role and how we can support you. If required we can start a low level carers assessment over the phone and if ongoing support is needed we can refer you to one of our carer connectors who can support you further and your carers assessment will continue with them.
We will only complete a a low level carers assessment by phone if you feel able to undertake the agreed actions in the support plan on your own or with the support of your family. A Carer Advisor will agree with you a time and date to call back and catch-up with your progress. They will also send you a copy of your assessment and support plan which lists the outcomes you wish to achieve and how these will be achieved.
If your situation changes or becomes more complex, the Advice Line will refer you to the Carers Matter Norfolk Community Support Team who will continue to support you and your carers assessment will continue, face-to-face at your home or at a local community venue of your choice.
The Advice Line Team can also help to provide guidance on developing an Emergency Plan for when something goes wrong, for example, if you’re injured or become ill, who will look after those who you care for. The Carer Advisors can help you to draft your own plan. We can also record emergency contacts, keyholders and, with your consent, share your plan with Norfolk County Council.