(see Appendix 1 of Carer Strategy)

1.    Age & Gender

2.    Demographic Pressures

3.    Intensity of Caring

4.    Impact of Caring

5.    Cost of Living

It is estimated that there are currently between 50,000 and 70,000 adult carers in Edinburgh.

This year’s report shows that:

·       13 targets were exceeded

·       102 were met and

·       7 were partially met

·       14 were not met

·       1 is under development

Work to quantify the wider uptake and access to support through statutory services, individuals, community groups and organisations’ work is currently being carried out through the CLEAR action research and will be available later in 2023

Heading for Crisis – caught between caring and rising costs

The Voice of Carers Across Lothian (VOCAL) survey of Edinburgh carers 2021

The Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) data

“It’s hard work being poor” Women’s Experiences of the Cost-of-Living Crisis in Scotland, The Poverty Alliance, Nov 2022

WOMEN’S SURVEY 2023 Experiences of rising costs across Scotland

Scottish Women’s Budget Group

This report highlights the impact upon unpaid carers of the current cost-of-living crisis. It pays particular attention to carers financial challenges and how their sense of health and well-being are affected:

·       1 in 6 carers are in debt as a result of their caring role, increasing to 2 in 5 for carers in receipt of Carer’s Allowance.

·       The proportion of carers unable to afford their utility bills has more than doubled since last year to 14%.

·       Carers in receipt of Carer’s Allowance are more likely to be cutting back on food and heating.

·       Nearly all carers who are struggling to make ends meet (93%) agreed that the increase in the cost of living was having a negative impact on their mental and physical health.

Outlines the financial impact of caring, 69% of respondents reported that being a carer had a financial impact.

There have been increases in people reporting they have stopped or reduced employment and lost NI or pension contributions.  15% had to borrow money due to their caring role and 7% have had to use a food bank.

The Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) data shows that, in Edinburgh, 4,644 carers receive Carers Allowance and 250, sixteen- to eighteen-year-olds, received Young Carers Grants.  The number of people in receipt of Carers Allowance had been increasing annually but has recently plateaued.  The relatively low number of carers receiving carers allowance may be due to a number of factors including eligibility criteria, carer identification and that often pensioners become illegible for Carers Allowance once they receive pensionable income.  The number of young carers applying for, and receiving a Young Carer Grant has been increasing since the benefit launched in 2019.

This report shares the experiences of women in Scotland on low incomes affected by the cost-of-living crisis. Women are being disproportionately impacted by the cost-of-living crisis due to existing inequalities across all areas of life. They are more likely to be living in poverty, have lower levels of savings and wealth and are less able to increase paid work than men due to caring responsibilities.  The role of unpaid caring is significant for women in Scotland. 85% of those economically inactive due to caring are women’ the stat is referenced to the Scottish Government 2020 Gender Equality Index.

In total, 871 women from all 32 local authorities in Scotland took part in SWBG Women’s Survey from February to March 2023.The current cost-of-living crisis has not impacted everyone equally. Issues such as austerity, wage stagnation, rising inflation, and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, all impact women due to pre-existing structural inequalities. Rising costs have hit individuals on the lowest incomes the hardest. This disproportionately impacts women as they are more likely to experience poverty throughout their lifetime with lower levels of savings and wealth in comparison to men as well as being unable to increase paid work due to caring responsibilities.

Impact of Poverty on Women and Girls

2011 Scotland’s Census

MECOPP Briefing Papers based on data from 2011 Census:

Gypsy/Traveller Carers – May 2020

Informal Caring within the LGBT Community – August 2019

Self Directed Support and Scotland’s Black and Minority Ethnic Communities, June 2017

Informal Caring within Scotland’s Black and Minority Ethnic Communities, June 2017

The Health of Scotland’s Black and Minority Ethnic Communities

June 2017

Data Sources

The Voice of Carers Across Lothian (VOCAL) survey of carers.

Experiences of Older Adult Unpaid Carers in Scotland – Carers Trust Scotland – May 2023

Women are four times as likely to give up paid work due to multiple caring responsibilities and are more likely to be in low-paid, part-time employment than male carers.

The responsibility of care has significant ramifications on women’s access to employment, career development and progress, access to training and higher education, as well as on physical and mental health.

There is little recent evidence re particular issues arising in minority ethnic communities however we know that minority ethnic communities face significant inequalities with higher chances of living in poverty and disparity in access to affordable housing.  Minority ethnic people were also amongst the worst affected by COVID-19 19.  Being a carer in addition to being from a minority ethnic community will only increase the risk of poorer financial and well-being outcomes.  In the 2011 Scotland’s Census, in Edinburgh, 9.7% of carers identified as an ethnic minority.

In Edinburgh, the 2021, the Voice of Carers Across Lothian (VOCAL) survey of carers, reports that 41% of respondents reported more contact with health services about their own health (up from 35% in 2017).  67% reported that their physical health has been affected and 79% that their mental health has been affected compared with 59% reporting that being a carer made their health worse in 2017.

Survey of older carers over 65.  Key findings from respondents:

80% said their physical health had been affected by their caring role.

87% said that their health and wellbeing had been affected by their caring role.

65% said that they experience feelings of loneliness some of the time, and a further 19% said they often felt lonely.

18% feel as though they have no time for themselves.

82% felt as though their caring role has financially impacted them.

In the past12 months 37% have used gas and electricity as a way to save money, and 19% have skipped meals in the past 12 months.

State of Caring in Scotland, Nov 2022, Carers UK

This report explores the key findings from our latest State of Caring survey.  The annual State of Caring report provides comprehensive research into the lives of unpaid carers in Scotland, along with the experiences of carers.

The 2022 State of Caring survey was carried out between July and September 2022 and completed by 2,044 unpaid carers across Scotland.

Care Inspectorate inquiry into Adult Carers’ Experiences of social work and care services  published December 2022

Care Inspectorate Report of adult social and social care services City of Edinburgh published March 2023

The report highlights the need for improvement in support of adult unpaid carers and makes a series of recommendations. Inspectors from the Care Inspectorate carried out this work between March and July 2022

An inspection of adult social work and social care services in the City of Edinburgh which identified areas for improvement in adult social work and social care services in the City of Edinburgh

Carers (Scotland) Act 2016: statutory guidance – updated July 2021

Equal partners in care

Independent Review of Adult Social Care

Self-directed Support (SDS) Improvement Plan 2023-2027

Carers’ charter – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Equal Partners in Care (EPiC) is a learning resource for health and social care staff to help have better conversations and interactions with carers. The aim is to make a positive difference and improve outcomes for carers and the people they care for.

Outlines the vision for improved health and social care support in Scotland.

The Self-directed Support (SDS) Improvement Plan 2023-2027 aims to take a whole system approach to the improvement of SDS, recognising that delivery partners across statutory, third and independent sectors all play an essential role in SDS improvement.  The SDS Improvement Plan 2023 – 2027 sets out the priorities to drive forward improvement in Self-directed Support over the next few years.  The plan recognizes that Self-directed Support should be the way that social care support is delivered for adults, children and young people, families and carers.

The charter aims to help carers understand their rights under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016.

EIJB Medium Term Financial Strategy & 2023/24 Financial Plan Update

In the long term, the cared for persons’ condition is likely to have progressed and the caring role to have increased in relation to this. Meanwhile the demand for carer support planning and assessment for the cared for person is increasing too.

The report outlines Phase 2 savings proposals for 2023/24 and a range of options which would be required to balance the plan in year.