What is a carer?
If you look after someone who has a disability, mental health condition, is affected my substance misuse or if they are an older person who is having difficulty in their daily life, you may be a carer. The person you care for could be a parent, sibling, partner, friend or neighbour and this could be from an hour per week to most of the day, every day.
The Carer (Scotland) Act started in 2016 and introduced the right for a carer to have an Adult Carer Support Plan or a Young Carer Statement (which is the same as an Adult Carer Support Plan but easier to understand).
It also means that carers have to be treated as Equal Partners in Care, meaning their views and opinions about what is needed when planning care and support must be taken into account. For example, when someone is planning to leave hospital or needs support from the council.
The Act also makes it the responsibility of each local authority to develop a strategy to ensure the priorities for carers are provided for in a joined up way. The six carer priorities in Edinburgh are:
- Identifying Carers
- Providing Information & Advice
- Promoting Carer Health & Wellbeing
- Providing access to Short Breaks for Carers
- Ensuring Young Carers are supported
- Promoting Personalised Support
The Act also makes it the responsibility of each local authority to set an eligibility criteria framework. These frameworks help to determine the level of support to provide to carers based on their identified needs.
“By ensuring more personalised and effective delivery of support to carers, the Act seeks to address the issues that may reduce or impede the wellbeing and positive outcomes for Scotland’s carers. Improving the physical and emotional wellbeing of carers also benefits those being cared for and can help to sustain good caring relationships.”
Scottish Government 2021
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