The What If? Plan is a free service to help unpaid carers like you by providing emergency support to the person you care for, in the event of you being unable to care because of a sudden illness, accident or other unplanned event. If the person you look after is over 18* and lives in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough you can register for a free What If? Plan with us below.
The service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.
* If you are a parent carer looking after someone who is under 18 you can register an emergency plan with us and in the case of an emergency we would contact your nominated contact(s) on your behalf.
What counts as an emergency?
An emergency counts as anything that you have not been able to plan for such as:
- Sudden illness
- Unplanned admission to hospital
- Family emergency (e.g. close relative taken ill)
- Risk to employment
- Had an accident or car has broken down
- Unable to care due to impact of caring on physical/mental wellbeing.
This is a free service funded by Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, to look after adults with care needs during an emergency involving their family carer. This is done by getting in touch with your nominated contacts for you, with back-up support available, if essential.
See information about other emergency planning for carers.
Register a What If? Plan
You can register your What If? Plan with us below. You can see further details about the What If? Plan below the form.
Please note fields marked in blue, are required information. You cannot save a partially completed form. If you have no nominated contacts, you may leave that section blank.
What happens after you submit your form?
On receipt of your What If? Plan, we will send you an email to confirm we have received your application, then proceed to register you and send you an emergency card and contact details to use in an emergency.
Help available to complete your form
- If you are already in contact with one of our partner organisations – Alzheimer’s Society, Cam Sight, CHS Group, Care Network, Centre 33, Headway Cambridgeshire, Hunts Forum, Making Space – you can ask for their support in completing this form.
- Please do not hesitate to contact us on 01480 499090 for further assistance in filling out this form.
- If you would like to receive a copy of the What If? Plan form by email, in large print, audio, Braille or any other language please contact us on 01480 499090.
What to remember
- You must let us know if any information given to us changes. You can do this by either:
- calling the number 01480 499090; or
- emailing changes to [email protected]
- You must let us know if your key safe numbers/alarm codes/details of any other security arrangements that you have given us change by calling us on 01480 499090.
- If you care for more than one person you should complete a separate What If? Plan for each person that you care for. This is because each loved one you care for will have different needs and could be in a different location and the care you offer to each individual is unique and specific to the individual.
