Guidance published ahead of commencement of Carers Act
Guidance on implementing the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 has been published by the Scottish Government ahead of the Act coming into force on 1 April 2018.
The Act aims to achieve better support on a more consistent basis for Scotland‘s estimated 788,000 carers, including 44,000 young carers, to protect their own good health and wellbeing and allow them to have a life alongside caring.
It introduces the right to a new adult carer support plan or young carer statement, based on the preventative approach to identify each carer’s personal outcomes and needs for support. Local eligibility criteria must be set in each local authority area, to help authorities determine the level of support to provide based on carers' identified needs. Advice and information services are key to the Act's approach.
Intended for local authorities, health boards and integration authorities, as well as other organisations working alongside statutory bodies to deliver carer support, the guidance encourages them to follow the spirit of the Act itself, with the intention of delivering personalised support which that provides carers with improved choice and control.
It also emphasises the importance of public and other bodies continuing to share learning and good practice, and establishing and maintaining good partnerships with third sector organisations will also play an important part in delivering effective local personalised support.
A separate carers’ charter will be published setting out the rights of carers as provided for under the Act.