Carers Voucher Scheme - Bedfordshire County Council

Carers Voucher
Scheme
Bedfordshire County Council supports you
as a carer to take a break and enjoy social,
educational and employment opportunities.
One of the ways we can support you is
through a carers voucher.

Carers Voucher Scheme
This service is run on our behalf
by the Carers Support Bureau,
which is part of Bedfordshire Rural
Communities Charity.
All Carers Services (vouchers
and direct payments) are FREE.
What can the vouchers
be used for?
The vouchers provide a paid carer,
from a Bedfordshire County Council
approved agency, to spend time with
the person you care for while you
take a break to help you;
• have some personal time
to yourself;
• socialise;
• have access to education; and
• go to work.
The vouchers provide this service
to you as a carer rather than the
person you care for. In law, the
vouchers cannot be used for a
personal care service that should
be provided by Health or Social
services to you as a carer
or to the person you care for.
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Personal care includes:
• Moving
• Handling
• Bathing.
The service you receive
depends on the needs identified
in your carers assessment. The
assessment can be done with the
person you care for or separately
Some carers use the allocation to
have a series of two hour breaks
a week, others save them up and
have a complete days break.
The choice is yours, as long as
you use the vouchers within their
three month expiry date and each
break is a minimum of one hour.
How does the scheme work?
You will need a carers assessment.
The assessment can be done
with the person you care for
or separately.
This tells us:
• If you are eligible to receive a
carers service from us
• What your needs are as a carer
• What service would best
meet your needs.

Carers Voucher Scheme
After the assessment, a Health
or Social Services panel may
approve a carers service for you.
If the panel agrees the carers
vouchers, you will receive an
agreed allocation of vouchers each
month. Each voucher is worth one
hour of care. Many accredited
home care agencies accept the
vouchers. You can contact us
directly for a list of agencies.
While the Carers Support Bureau
will give you details and advice
about getting vouchers, you will
need to arrange the care you
require directly with the agency
when you receive your vouchers.
When you contact the agency they
should discuss what you need and
agree the arrangements with you.
How to find out more
For a carer’s assessment, further
information about vouchers or other
services and support for carers,
please contact the Bedfordshire
Carers Helpline on
0300 0123435
Alternatively, you can get in
touch by emailing us at
carers@bedscc.gov.uk
or visiting
www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/carers
You can also contact the
Bedfordshire Rural Communities
Charity Carer Support Bureau
on 0800 0391234.
When the care has been provided,
you present your voucher to the
agency and they claim the money
back from Social Services.
www.bedfordshire.gov.uk
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Finding out more
If you would like further copies, a large-print copy
or information about us and our services, please
telephone or write to us at our address below.
01234 718000
Customer Service Team
Carers Voucher Scheme
Freepost ANG 5499
Bedfordshire County Council
Bedford
MK42 9BR
100_08 Designed by Creative Services,
Bedfordshire County Council, County Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford MK42 9AP.
www.bedfordshire.gov.uk