Carer Hub Support

Parent Carers Hub

Birmingham Carers Hub offers specific support to Parent Carers, if you are caring for a child aged 4- 25 years with additional needs living in Birmingham.

Woman with bunny ears with son in a wheelchair

A Parent Carer or guardian is someone who provides support to their child, including a grown-up son or daughter, aged up to 25 years, who could not manage without their help. This care could be due to the child or adult being ill, disabled or having a mental illness or addiction.

As a parent of a child with a disability or long-term illness, life can be incredibly demanding. You may find that you spend so much time fighting for the right support for your child, that your own physical and mental wellbeing is abandoned. Reaching out for support is not always easy, so simply being on this page is a step in the right direction. 

Here you will be able to find the right information, advice and specialist services to support you and your family to achieve the best possible outcomes. By registering with Birmingham Carers Hub, you can access a range of free support tailored to your needs, whether this is light touch or more intensive support, there is something to help everyone. 

Family Assessment and Wellbeing Check

If you care for a child with a disability, Birmingham Children’s Trust will consider your own needs as part of the family assessment or if your child meets a specific criteria you may be able request a separate assessment by contacting the Disabled Children Social Care Team on: 0121 303 1888

Birmingham Carers Hub can offer a Wellbeing Check for Parent Carers and advise you about the support we can provide:

  • Information, advice and support from us or other organisations
  • Welfare entitlement support
  • Referral to other specialist groups which provide expert advice and support about health,
    housing, benefits, employment, education, training and leisure opportunities
  • Referral to carers’ support groups
  • Registration for Emergency Carers Support Service
  • Training for your caring role
  • In certain circumstances, counselling or practical assistance to support you in your caring role
  • Information on short breaks

Birmingham Disabled Children’s Register

Any child or young person aged from birth to 18 years in Birmingham with a special educational need and/or disability can be on the Birmingham Disabled Children’s Register. Adding your child’s name to the Birmingham Disabled Children’s Register will help our commissioners Birmingham Children’s Trust to understand more about the needs of children with disabilities and be able to plan better services in Birmingham in the future.

Can I get a MAX Card?

By joining the Birmingham Disabled Children’s Register, you are eligible for a Max Card. A Max Card is for Birmingham families who have a child with a disability living in the household aged from birth to 18 years (proof will be required); and gives you FREE or discounted entry to literally hundreds of fantastic family-friendly attractions. Please allow 30 days to receive your Max Card from the date of your application.

If you have a son or daughter aged 18 to 25 with a disability, s/he is not eligible for the Birmingham Disabled Children’s Register but you may be able to receive a Max Card. For more information contact Midland Mencap via families@midlandmencap.org.uk or call 0121 442 2944.

Support from Birmingham Carers Hub’s Partners

Midland Mencap

Our lead partner, Midland Mencap provides specialist Parent Carer Support, as well as a wide range of information, advice and support. Midland Mencap is a learning disability charity which works and campaigns for accessible and inclusive services and a better quality of life for everyone. Midland Mencap can support Parent Carers in the following ways:

  • Drop-in sessions across many community Hubs
  • Parent Carers Wellbeing Assessments
  • Parent Carers Wellbeing Support Groups across the city. Please check What’s On page.
  • Parent Carers Information Line available for any advice, guidance and signposting
  • Parent Carer One to One Information, Advice and Guidance Sessions
  • Short Breaks for Children with Additional Needs
  • Family Events throughout the year
  • Disabled Children’s Register plus Free Max Card and E-news
  • Parent Carer Information Events across the City
  • One to one support
  • CERS (Carers Emergency Response Service)
  • Welfare and benefit check

For more information on Parent Carer information, advice and support click here or contact Midland Mencap Family Carers Wellbeing Service on 0121 442 2944 or email: families@midlandmencap.org.uk

Action for Children

Action for Children support and speak out for the most vulnerable children and young people in the UK. Locally, Action for Children support Parent Carers from their Children’s Community Centre in West Birmingham. They offer information and advice as well as out of school activities for children with additional needs. For more information please visit actionforchildren.org.uk or call 0121 507 9500.

OSCAR Birmingham

OSCAR Birmingham provides a specialist service for Family Carers, supporting someone, predominantly children and young people living with Sickle Cell Anaemia and Thalassaemia blood disorder, including co-morbidities. This city-wide service works as part of Birmingham Carers Hub partnership to support Carers from Black and Minority Ethnic communities, so they have better access to services, ensure they have a voice and are heard. For more information click here.

Other useful contacts

Birmingham Disabled Children’s Register

Any child or young person aged from birth to 18 years in Birmingham with a special educational need and/or disability can be on the Birmingham Disabled Children’s Register. Adding your child’s name to the Birmingham Disabled Children’s Register will help our commissioners Birmingham Children’s Trust to understand more about the needs of children with disabilities and be able to plan better services in Birmingham in the future. Only Parent Carers and guardians can add their children to the register; it is completely voluntary and you can remove your details at any time.

By joining the Birmingham Disabled Children’s Register, you are eligible for a Max Card. A Max Card is for Birmingham families who have a child with a disability living in the household aged from birth to 18 years (proof will be required); and gives you FREE or discounted entry to literally hundreds of fantastic family-friendly attractions. Please allow 30 days to receive your Max Card from the date of your application.

Birmingham Children's Trust

If you would like your details and your child’s details included on the Birmingham Disabled Children’s Register, please complete this form.