Support for Carers
Mecopp Carers Act guide
An Introduction to the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016
Do you look after someone because they have a physical or mental illness, disability or health problems because of substance misuse or their age? You may be a parent, husband or wife, partner, son or daughter, brother or sister or a good friend or neighbour. If the answer is yes – you are also a carer.
Caring for someone else can be physically and emotionally stressful. It can affect your health, your finances and your relationships. But it can also be rewarding if you receive the right help and support when you need it. The Mecopp Carers Act guide (attached below) is for adult carers only.
New Legislation for Carers
The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 comes into force on 1st April. Carers can be a parent, a partner or a son or daughter or friend to someone who needs support as a result of their disability, condition or illness and provide them with help and support to manage their life. The Act provides new rights to carers in a number of areas.
Implementation of the Carers Act
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is working with NHS Western Isles to prepare for the implementation of the Carers Act from April 2018.
A Carers Act Implementation Group has been established by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to co-ordinate the delivery of the key elements of the Act. This group is made up of representatives from integrated health and social care services, the Western Isles Community Care Forum and the Western Isles Carers and Supporters Network.
What does this mean?
The intention of the Act is to ensure that Scotland‘s estimated 745,000 adult carers and 44,000 young carers are better supported on a more consistent basis, so that they can continue to care, if they so wish, in good health and to have a life alongside caring.
Moreover, in relation to young carers, the intention is that young carers should have a childhood similar to their non-carer peers.
The Act (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) includes, amongst other things:
- a duty on Local Authorities and NHS Boards to involve carers in the delivery and planning of services including hospital discharge
- a duty on Local Authorities and NHS Boards to involve carers in the development of Local Carer Strategies setting out how they will deliver the requirements of the Carers Act over a three year period.
- a duty on Local Authorities to provide support to carers, based on the carer’s identified needs which meet local eligibility criteria.
- a specific Adult Carer Support Plan and Young Carer Statement to identify carers’ needs and personal outcomes.
- a requirement for each Local Authority to have its own information and advice service for carers which must provide information and advice on, amongst other things, emergency and future care planning, advocacy, income maximisation and carers’ rights.
What is happening at Government level?
The Scottish Government is has completed a number of pilots and is currently producing guidance and regulations to support the delivery of the Carers Act. (Further Information (Opens in a new window or downloads a file))
What are we doing at Western Isles level?
A Carers Act Group, established by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is co-ordinating the delivery of the key elements of the Act. This group is made up of representatives from integrated health and social care services as well as the Western Isles Community Care Forum and the Western Isles Carers and Supporters Network who represent carers in the Western Isles
Working with carers and partner agencies we are:
- Reviewing and updating the Western Isles Carers Strategy
- Producing an Adult Carer Support Plan template
- Producing a Young Carer Statement template
- Producing local eligibility criteria
- Producing a short-breaks statement
- Involving and listening to carers, young carer’s, care for people and carer organisations in all of the above.
Easy to read information leaflets for carers are available from the Social Work Department and NHS Western Isles locations. Short video clips for carers have been developed by Coalition of Carers Scotland (Opens in a new window or downloads a file)
Short Breaks Services Statement
A Short Break Services Statement is a statement of information about the short breaks services available in Scotland for carers and the people they care for.
Our Western Isles Short Breaks Services Statement explains:
- what short breaks are
- who can access them
- what short breaks are available in the Western Isles and across Scotland
- how to access short breaks and find more information.
The Short Breaks Services Statement is available below.