I am a Parent Carer

A Parent Carer or guardian is someone who provides support to their child, including 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 who can support you and your family to achieve the best possible outcome. It may be some light touch support or more intense support, there is something to help everyone. 

A great place to start is by registering with Birmingham Carers Hub. It’s free and once you are registered you can access a range of free support and services tailored to your needs. Have a scroll and take a look at the information available to Parent Carers and how to get in touch. 

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. 

Support from Family Carer Wellbeing Service

Midland Mencap is a Birmingham Carers Hub Delivery Partner providing 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 
• A wide range of Parent Carers Workshops
• Parent Carers Wellbeing Support Groups across the city. 
• 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 

Other support available from Birmingham Carers Hub partners

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 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 Local Offer
SEND Guide for Families 
Birmingham Children’s Trust 
Midland Mencap 
Action for Children 
Contact
Forward Thinking Birmingham
KIDS
Autism West Midlands 
Advocacy Matters 
POhWER
Birmingham Parent Carer Forum 
NHS Birmingham Community Healthcare (Parents and Carers)  
Benefit information 
From Birmingham with Love 
Carers Trust 
Carers UK
SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs & Disability Information,
Advice and Support Service 0121 303 5004 email sendiass@birmingham.gov.uk
Family Fund
CEA Card

Max Cards for Parent Carers

To register your child on the Birmingham Disabled Children’s Register and to receive your FREE Max Card, click on the button below.

With thanks to Midland Mencap for their permission to use the main image on this page