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Focus on carers

Learn more about how we provide safe, quality care and the best experience for carers - part of the Local Account Summary.

Signposts for Carers - information

Signposts for Carers is Torbay carers’ information and advice service. It’s the first stop for anyone with a caring role in Torbay. The service is available 9am-4.30pm, Monday to Friday (except bank holidays) by phone, email or in person at Torbay Hospital’s advice point on level 4 main reception.

Carers can also drop into the Carers Centre at Paignton Library or make appointments at Brixham or Torquay Carers Centres.

Colin is the Signposts Information Officer.

Colin Signposts Information OfficerWhat is the best part of your job?

“Providing people with information that supports them with their caring role. Referring carers onto carer support workers and other agencies to boost their confidence and enable them to thrive. Carers should know that they are not alone in their caring role. They should not struggle in silence or solitude. Support, advice and advocacy are all available in various forms from many different agencies. It only takes a phone call or email to Signposts for Carers.”

  • This year the service has answered 786 phone calls, made 482 visits and responded to 1189 email queries.  The service has posted 1393 register packs.

A care support worker based in GP SurgeryCarer support workers

The mainstay of the carers services is the carer support workers which is based in GP surgeries. They undertake carers’ health and wellbeing checks / assessments. This helps carers to look at the impact of their caring role and give them the support that they provide.

  • This year our GP-based carer support workers have undertaken 629 assessments (against a target of 500). 

There are other carer support workers based in mental health services, older people’s mental health and working with young adult carers aged 16-25 or carers from the armed forces community.

Carers Aid Torbay provides assessment, support and advocacy.

  • This year Carers Aid workers have completed 148 assessments against a target of 100. Its Bay Benefits service also brought in £731,291 in additional benefits to carers in Torbay in 2024.

Various support workers also run groups which offer carers’ peer support, with positive feedback, including:

  • “Great friendly environment to come to and chat with other carers. It's a good place to get out of the house and to get help and advice if needed.”
  • “I have found Wednesdays every month to be very informative. Everyone is friendly and you soon learn from other people, and to have someone listen is the best thing.”
  • “Discussing circumstances is very helpful and I have learnt a lot. Would be nice to do a few more activities/ quiz so I can get to know people better.”
  • “Convenient location and free parking is good. I received a friendly welcome and it felt easy to make conversation with other carers. I asked a question of the organisation and was pointed in the right direction.”
  • “This was my first visit and have found it relaxing and pleasant to be able to talk to others that understand where I'm coming from.”
  • “A friendly group of people, the carers’ support is very helpful with anything that you need.”
  • “I really look forward to coming to this group. I can speak freely, get useful advice and meet understanding people. We have a laugh and chat about all sorts apart from our caring roles.”

My story: Sally Smith, a hospital carer support worker

“My role is to speak up for carers when the person they care for is in hospital. I offer help around complex discharge planning and support carers to have the right conversations to get what they need in hospital and when they leave hospital. I also signpost carers to community and volunteer support. Part of my role is to identify carer stress and put things in place to avoid situations reaching crisis point.”

What is the best part of your job?

“Helping carers to navigate the help and support that is available when the person they care for is in the hospital. I find preventing people from feeling isolated in their caring role and ensuring their voice is heard very rewarding.” 

Involving carers

Carers have been involved in many aspects of carer services work.

They’ve written five ‘I statements’ saying what Carers’ priorities are for the Carers’ Strategy. 

Carer ambassadors involved in the Learning Disability Partnership Board, the Autism Partnership Board and the Carers’ Strategy Steering Group. They’ve also helped re-write and re-design some of our carers’ leaflets. 

Diane – A Carer’s Story

Diane is a carer for her husband who has dementia. She did a dementia course with Healthwatch and talks about the support she has had from Torbay Carers.

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