Campaign with us: Carersuk.org/news/campaigns
New rights for carers in Scotland come into force
Changes to support for carers in Scotland will come into effect on 1st April 2018 when the
Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 is brought in.
Carers Scotland has produced factsheets on what this means for carers, but we have set out
some of the changes here:
• A new Adult Carer Support Plan and Young Carer Statement, replacing carers
assessments.
• A duty on local authorities to provide support to carers, based on the carer’s identified
needs which meet the local eligibility criteria.
• A requirement for each local authority to have its own information and advice service for
carers.
Keep an eye on our website at www.carerscotland.org for regular updates, including our
new factsheets.
Power to People for Carers in Northern Ireland?
The “Power to People: Proposals to reboot Adult Care and Support in NI” report was published
in December 2017. As part of the wider Reform of Adult Care and Support, the report
highlights 16 proposals including putting the rights of family carers on a legal footing and a
promise to involve them in the transformation of adult care. Carers NI has been involved at
various stages, including giving evidence and meeting with the panel, and we ensured that
the issues facing carers were at the heart of what we told them.
Welsh Government to establish Ministerial Advisory Group for Carers
The journey for carers rights in Wales continues with a Ministerial Advisory Group for Carers
being announced. Last Autumn, the Minister for Children and Social Care set out three
national priorities to make life better for carers in Wales:
• Supporting life alongside caring – such as having reasonable breaks and a life beyond
caring
• Identifying and recognising carers -
helping ensure they can access the
necessary support
• Providing information, advice and
assistance
The Welsh Government has said that
to deliver these improved outcomes
for carers, help and commitment of
all partners is needed across sectors,
including health, local authorities,
education. To help to do this it has
proposed creating a new Ministerial
Advisory Group for Carers in 2018/19.
Find out more: Carersuk.org/wales/news
@carersuk
/carersuk
11