Scotland's New Carers Strategy

On 26 July 2010, Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Public Health, launched 'Caring Together' – Scotland's new carers strategy and the first ever young carers strategy. For the first time, carers are being recognised as equal partners in care.

Carers are equal partners in the planning and delivery of care and support. There is a strong case on human rights, economic, efficiency and quality of care grounds for supporting carers. Without the valuable contribution of carers, the health and social care system would not be sustained.

The strategy was launched with an investment of £5.2 million over the next five years, targeted to allow the voluntary sector to improve the provision of short breaks.

The strategy sets out the following priority actions for government, local authorities, NHS and voluntary sector:

  • We will develop a Carers Rights Charter, consolidating existing legal rights and setting out key principles for carer support both now and in the future.

  • We will help professionals in the health and social care workforce identify carers.

  • We will take steps to improve the uptake and quality of carers assessments/carer support plans through workforce training and widely-disseminated guidance.

  • We will improve the provision of information and advice to carers.

  • We will ensure carer representation on Community Health Partnerships.

  • We will produce a bespoke resource on issues relating to stress and caring. We will ensure that carers aged 40-64 have access to health checks.

  • We will invest £281,000 in carer (and workforce) training this year through a grant to the national carer organisations. We will work with NHS Boards to ensure a 'training offer' may be made to carers in greatest need.

  • We will invest a further £1 million in 2010-11 [and subsequent years] to provide more innovative short breaks in Scotland to be delivered by the voluntary sector.

  • We will encourage and promote carer-friendly employment practices.

 

What carers can do now:

 

  • Approach your local councillor to ask how your Local Authority will promote and implement 'Caring Together'
  • Approach your local MSP and ask them to give their full support to the implementation of the strategy, and ask them for additional commitments in their 2011 election manifesto (see www.writetothem.com)
     
  • Join VOCAL's e-mailing list to keep up to date with policy developments