Hazel Fernandez – Carer Journey

Hazel reached out for support because she wanted to continue in her caring role but was finding the demands increasingly difficult to manage. She cares for her elderly father, who has fluctuating mental health, and her sister, who has a learning disability and lives in residential care. 

Hazel provides her father with practical support and stays overnight several days a week to make sure he is eating properly and taking his medication. Alongside her caring responsibilities, she also works part-time. 

There had been an ongoing family issue that had caused significant emotional strain. For several years, a safeguarding court order had been in place that prevented Hazel’s father from having full access to see his daughter. This order was originally imposed due to concerns that his mental health at the time could cause Hazel’s sister distress. As a result, contact between them was limited to attending church services, where they could only see each other in a public setting. 

Hazel also shared serious concerns about her sister’s care at the residential home. She had noticed that her sister was not always appropriately dressed when going out, her room was not being cleaned properly, and personal belongings were going missing. Despite previously raising concerns, Hazel was unsure how to move things forward. 

That’s when she turned to Leicester Carers Support Service. 

She spoke with a Carer Support Worker took time to understand Hazel’s situation and asked whether the risks that had originally led to the court order were still present. Hazel explained that she no longer believed her father posed any risk and felt that, due to his age and physical health, he was now more vulnerable himself. The support worker suggested Hazel contact the solicitor responsible for the Court of Protection order to request a review, so that her father and sister could spend more meaningful time together. 

In relation to the care home, the support worker advised Hazel to contact Adult Social Care immediately to raise her concerns with the local authority. 

Following this guidance, Hazel contacted the relevant organisations, and the court order was reviewed. It was agreed that Hazel’s father and sister could meet in other public places outside of church services. Their first family outing was attending a Clarence House Christmas Dinner together, which Hazel described as a wonderful day that finally felt like a normal family occasion. Many photos were taken as treasured memories, and Hazel was also able to take her father to the care home to spend Christmas Day together as a family. 

Hazel’s concerns about the residential home have since been resolved with the support of Adult Social Care and the care home’s management. 

Reflecting on the support she received, Hazel said:

“I couldn’t have achieved this without the support of the Carer Support Worker — I can’t thank you enough.”