A CHARITY which supports carers in Bexley is offering a new service to help them commission care for their elderly or disabled friend or relative.

Bexley Council has now swopped to a system of individual budgets for people who need care in their homes, instead of providing the care itself.

This means people will be given the funds to pay for care, but will have to find it and arrange it for themselves.

Often this task will fall to the person’s carer, and Carers’ Support (Bexley) is now offering its help.

With funding from The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, it has been able to employ someone specifically to help with sorting out care arrangements.

The co-ordinator, Jenny Smith, will arrange one-to-one meetings to discuss the options available and help put together a personalised care plan.

If you are a carer and need help in commissioning care, call Ms Smith on 020 8302 8011.