December 2022

Does anyone ever ask what you want/need for Christmas?

This year we are encouraging carers to speak to their family and friends honestly about what they really want or need for Christmas. For many carers, the challenge is getting people to understand how caring impacts their life and what problems a ‘simple’ thing, like Christmas dinner, can cause.

We hope our new blog post will help; you can read it by visiting our website:

A Considerate Christmas – Portsmouth Carers Service

Feel free to share the post with any friends, family or colleagues. If you would like a printed version, please let us know.

Call: 02392 851 864 – Email: carerscentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Knowing who you’re talking to can help you feel more comfortable

First Name: Lizzie
What do you do at the Carers Centre? I am a Development Officer and I lead on Joint Assessment work. These are assessments that include the whole family and focus on what support the client needs as well as what services the carer also requires.

What do you like about working at the Carers Centre? I like working with Carers and supporting them to achieve their own goals and outcomes.

Name three of your character traits? Organised, empathetic and sociable.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working? I love to exercise, spend time with my family/friends and going on holiday.

Favourite quote? ‘Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.’ Benjamin Franklin.

First Name: Jo

What do you do at the Carers Centre? I work as a Project Officer; I have been at the centre since 2012. I am currently working on a project with Lizzie supporting with Joint assessments.

What do you like about working at the Carers Centre? I like the face-to-face interactions with carers and to see the outcome if support is provided.

Name three of your character traits? Honest, empathetic, and compassionate.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working? I like walking my dog Ted and going out with friends and family to socialize.

Favourite quote? ‘The older you get the better you get. Unless you are a banana.’ Betty White.

A bit of sparkle and Christmas cheer for carers in Portsmouth

As part of our schedule for December, there was a very festive theme! On the run up to Christmas, carers were able to decorate Christmas cakes and cupcakes, make festive chutney and chilli jam – decorating the jars too. They were also able to join in with the Christmas party, quiz and carol singing. Here is a selection of photos from the sessions.

At this busy time of year especially – don’t forget you!

This is a little reminder that you are just as important as the person you care for. Your health and wellbeing matter. It is easy to get caught up in caring and you soon find that you’ve run out of time to look after yourself.

One of the best ways to try and avoid this is to plan! Plan some time, write it on the calendar or set an alarm on your phone. Even 5-10 minutes a day to clear your head, sit down and drink a cup of tea or read your favourite book – could be enough to keep you going. If you can plan in more time that’s great, but you must make sure you stick to the plan. Obviously, there are sometimes emergencies, but when it’s not an emergency – ask yourself ‘do I need to do that task NOW or can it wait 5 minutes?’

If you would like some ideas about how to use your scheduled ‘me time’ there are lots of links to local services and online activities on our Health and Wellbeing page.

If you would like to discuss ways to look after yourself or how you can schedule some ‘me time’ please feel free to contact Portsmouth Carers Service.

Call: 02392 851 864

Email: carerscentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

As part of our expanded visibility – we have a new website!

Over the last year we have worked hard to increase our visibility within the local community – aiming to reach as many unpaid carers in Portsmouth as possible.

We know from carers’ feedback that using a combination of offline (traditional) methods and online (digital) methods are the best way to reach the diverse range of carers in our city. The newer methods, like social media, do not replace meeting a carer in person or chatting on the telephone – instead, they complement them. Recognising that every carer is unique, with their own preferred communication methods, our balanced offering enables us to tailor our service to the needs of the individual.

If meeting face to face is not possible or causes anxiety, no problem – we can talk on the phone or by email. If you don’t have access to the internet or prefer talking to someone in person, no problem – we can arrange an appointment at Portsmouth Carers Centre or in your own home. If you don’t use email but would like to receive our newsletter – no problem, we will send you a printed copy in the post.

The newest edition to Portsmouth Carers Service is our website: www.portsmouthcarersservice.co.uk

This is a one-stop-shop for carers in Portsmouth. You can find out how we can support carers, useful resources, support groups and much, much more. We even have a simple quiz for people who are not sure if they are an unpaid carer. The website is also designed to help professionals who work with carers, making sure they have access to the right information and can easily refer carers into our service.

Just remember, if you would like to contact us – please use what ever method suits you. If you need additional support to access our service or have any questions just let us know.

Telephone: 02392 851864

Email: carerscentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/portsmouthcarerscentre

Messenger: @PortsmouthCarersCentre

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portsmouthcarerscentre/

Address: Portsmouth Carers Centre, 117 Orchard Road, Southsea, PO4 0AD

‘Meeting carers and other professionals was most enjoyable.’

Last month’s Carers Count event was a huge success. An incredible range of delegates, including unpaid carers from around the city and many professionals from different health and social care organisations, saw the launch of Health and Care Portsmouth’s new strategy – Portsmouth Plan for Carers.

This was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to share their thoughts, ideas and feedback about what is important to carers, current provision and suggestions for the future. We collated all the discussion points and are putting together an action plan for the new year. Once we have finalised this, we will share the plan with you – our caring community.

The Portsmouth Carers Service team would like to thank everyone who attended and all the organisations who supported the event. We hope to build on this success and make future events even bigger and better!

Please note our opening hours over Christmas and New Year

• Friday 23rd December – closed to public drop-in: contact via telephone/email available
• Monday 26th December – closed (Bank Holiday)
• Tuesday 27th December – closed (Bank Holiday)
• Wednesday 28th December – closed to public drop-in: contact via telephone/email available
• Thursday 29th December – closed to public drop-in: contact via telephone/email available
• Friday 30th December – closed to public drop-in: contact via telephone/email available
• Monday 2nd January – closed (Bank Holiday)
• Tuesday 3rd January – open as normal: 9am -5pm

Remember medical emergencies should always be dealt with by calling 999. If you need emergency care visits put in place (for example, if someone’s carer is in hospital), call the Adult Social Care helpdesk on: 023 9268 0810.

Portsmouth Carers Service newsletter is published every two months and is sent by email (or post for those without email or need a printed format). If you would like to sign up to our newsletter mailing list, please complete the form below. Alternatively, you can call us on: 023 9285 1864