The package of provisions in the Carers Act is designed to support carers’ health and wellbeing. The following summary comes from Shared Care Scotland, if you click on the blue links they will take you to more information about this in other areas of the website.

• A new duty on local authorities to prepare an adult carer support plan or young carer statement for anyone they identify as a carer, or for any carer who requests one
• A duty on local authorities to set local eligibility criteria for carer support
• A duty on local authorities to provide support to carers that meet local eligibility criteria
• A duty on local authorities to consider option of breaks from caring when undertaking support planning
• A requirement that local authorities and health boards involve carers in carers’ services, and to involve carers in hospital discharge planning
• A duty on local authorities and health boards to prepare a carers strategy for their area
• A duty on local authorities to establish and maintain advice and information services for carers
• A duty on local authorities to produce a short breaks services statement

Other leaflets available : -

1. Cared for person being assessed
2. Self Directed Support
3. Emergency Planning

You can click here to view a full online version of the Act, while a more user-friendly summary of what the act means for unpaid carers can be found here.

For more information about Carers Rights and our most recent 'Carers Rights Day', please click HERE.

An easy to read leaflet detailing some of your rights as a carer can be found HERE.