Sefton Carers Centre currently employs three link workers who cover different areas of the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton. The link workers can talk to people, register them with the Carers Centre, and introduce them to other services that are provided by Sefton Carers Centre. The link workers also have outreach venues in different areas of Sefton, where carers can drop-in to speak to the link workers about their caring role and also access complementary therapy treatments.
One link worker covers the south end of the borough, including Bootle, Litherland and Crosby. At Sefton Carers Centre in Waterloo, carers can meet with the link worker to discuss anything that is on their mind about their caring role, spend some time away from the person they care for to take a break, or just drop-in for a chat with a friendly face!
Carers can also access complementary therapy treatments, which are booked through an appointments system. These include aromatherapy and massage. The treatments are designed to relax the carers and enable them to have some time out to spend on themselves. Feedback from the carers who access the treatments has been really positive, and many people really feel they have benefited from the break from caring, and from the treatments they have accessed.
One link worker covers the south and central area of Sefton, including Maghull, Netherton, Melling, Thornton and Hightown. There is a drop-in at Maghull Health Centre, Westway on a Tuesday morning 9.30am - 12.30pm and Netherton Health Centre, Magdalene Square on Tuesday, 1.00pm - 4.30pm
The third link worker covers the north of the borough of Sefton, including Southport, Formby, Ainsdale, Birkdale, Churchtown and Crossens. The drop-in in the north of the borough takes place at the Alzheimers Society building on Stanley Street, Southport on a Thursday between 11.00am and 3.00pm.
The link workers provide an important function for Sefton Carers Centre, in that they are able to provide a community presence in all areas of the borough, which is important particularly for people who live quite a distance from the main Carers Centre building on South Road in Waterloo. For people who are not able to make the journey to the Carers Centre to access the drop-in on South Road, the drop-in centres around the borough provide a vital link in to services for carers, at a venue convenient to people who will hopefully feel more comfortable in their own community.
You can either download a referral form (rich text format/Word) or for details of outreach venues please contact a Link Worker by calling 0151 288 6060 or email us at help@carers.sefton.gov.uk
"I don’t think enough people realise how much help is available from the Link Workers."
"I have benefited greatly because of Sefton Carers. They allowed time to listen to me, opened new ideas for me to look at myself as a person and not only as a carer."