NHS Forth Valley is working with Clackmannanshire, Stirling and Falkirk Councils to prepare for the implementation of the Carers Act from April 2018.

Implementation Groups have been established by Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership and Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership to co-ordinate the delivery of the key elements of the Act.

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 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 Involve carers in the development of Local Carer Strategies setting out how they will deliver the requirements of teh 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.  For further information access the website at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Health/Support-Social-Care/Unpaid-Carers/Implementation

What are We Doing Across Forth Valley (FV)?

Working with carers and partner agencies to:

• Reviewing and updating the FV Carer Strategy
• Producing an Adult Carer Support Plan
• Producing a Young Carer Statement template
• Producing local eligibility criteria
• Producing a short-breaks statement
• Involving carers, young carer’s, care for people and carer organisations in all of the above.