Adult Carer Support Plans
All adult carers in Scotland have a legal right to an Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP). This is a personalised document which outlines your needs and priorities in your caring role.
For carers under age 18, you have a right to a similar document called a Young Carer Statement.
We offer information on why ACSPs are important and support to help you create one.
Speak to someone
One-to-one support
Now that you are registered with VOCAL, you can speak to our Carer Support Team whenever you need help. They will listen to how your caring role impacts you, and offer personalised advice.
If you need, they can help you access other services, whether at VOCAL or at one of our partner organisations.
This can be in person, or by phone or email.
Peer support
Meeting other carers in similar situations can help you feel less isolated.
We run lots of regular peer support groups for carers in local areas across Edinburgh and Midlothian. We also list peer support opportunities run by other organisations.
For carers in Edinburgh, we offer a peer mentoring service. You can be matched up with a volunteer who has had a caring role. We aim to match you up based on similar experiences (caring for someone with the same condition, or a similar relationship) so that you can get personalised advice.
Counselling
Becoming a carer can change your life in many ways, including the emotional impact. If you are struggling with this, you can access our counselling service for carers.
You will be asked to pay only what you can afford.
Wee Breaks
Help to access a short break from caring is the most requested type of support. Our Wee Breaks service helps you do this through:
- Funding
- Holiday homes
- Personalised advice
- Free hospitality or leisure experiences
Future planning
When you take on a caring role, the thought of planning ahead may be overwhelming. But it’s important to be prepared in case of an emergency, both for yourself and for the person you care for.
We can help you to:
- Make an emergency plan
- Get emergency cards for you and the person you care for
- Set up Power of Attorney and Guardianship
- Find out more about wills and trusts
Events and activities
Carer Training programme
We run a programme of free events for carers in Edinburgh and Midlothian who are registered with us. These run online or at our Edinburgh Carers’ Hub or Midlothian Carer Centre, or some are hosted by partner organisations.
We offer a wide range of events, covering money and benefits, your wellbeing, arts and crafts, monthly cuppas, carers’ legal rights, and more.
Online courses
If you can’t come to one of our scheduled events, but still want to learn more about issues affecting carers, you can try one of our online courses.
These are a mix of YouTube videos and more interactive courses. You can access them at any time and you don’t need to complete the course in one go.
Financial services
Benefits information and advice
There are lots of welfare benefits that you may be eligible for as a carer. There are also benefits for disabled or older people, or those on a low income.
If you’re new to the system, it might be hard to know where to start or how to apply. Our team of benefits advisors can help you with this.
You can read about each of the benefits relevant for carers on our website, or contact us to speak to an advisor.
Midlothian Carer Assistance Fund
Carers in Midlothian can apply for our Carer Assistance Fund (CAF). This gives you a one-off grant to help manage costs associated with your caring role.
For example, you might use the money to pay for specialised clothing or equipment, higher energy bills due to powering medical devices, or travel costs to health-related appointments.
Home energy support
Caring can be expensive. Maybe you have to keep your home extra warm to protect the health of the person you care for. Or maybe you use medical devices like hoists or oxygen machines, which require a lot of energy.
Our Safe and Warm Carer Support Practitioner offers:
- Personalised advice on saving money and keeping your home energy efficient
- Access to free carbon monoxide alarms
- A chance to speak about how energy issues are affecting your wellbeing
Treasure Tree
Another high cost for unpaid carers is mobility equipment and other health aids, such as wheelchairs or walkers.
Treasure Tree is our social enterprise which sells second-hand mobility equipment at discounted rates. We have a shop on eBay and in Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh.
Carers’ legal rights
Unpaid carers have important legal rights, set out in a few different UK laws. This includes the Carer’s Leave Act 2023, The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016, The Equality Act 2010, and many more.
Understanding your rights can help you access help you are entitled to.
Managing care
Self-directed Support (SDS)
This is the system for delivering social care in Scotland. You and the person you care for can both get involved in arranging the type of support you need.
We help you understand what SDS is, and support you in managing your own care packages.
Long-term care
From choosing a care home to working out how to pay for it, there can be a lot of practical and emotional stress when planning long-term care.
We provide information and personalised advice to help you take the next steps.
Hospital discharge
If the person you care for goes into hospital, this can be a stressful time. It’s important to know beforehand about your right to be an equal partner in care.
You can read more about this on our website, or contact us if you need more support.
Specialist support
Immediate mental health support
If you or the person you care for is in a crisis and needs immediate mental health support, please contact your GP.
If they are closed, call NHS 24 on 111 or use their textphone on 18001 111.
You can also contact one of these 24/7 helplines:
- Samaritans: 116 123
- Edinburgh Crisis Centre: 0808 801 0414
- Midlothian Mental Health and Resilience Service (MHARS): 0800 118 2962
For specific caring roles
Our Carer Support Practitioners specialise in supporting different types of carers, whether that’s based on the relationship between you and the person you care for, their condition, or your age. This includes:
Health support in Midlothian
We offer regular check-ups for carers in Midlothian to look after your own physical and mental health. These are run by experienced nurses from the Midlothian Community Health Inclusion Team.
Get in touch
Where to find us
Our Carer Support Team work not just in our carer centres, but also in partner organisations across Edinburgh and Midlothian. This helps you access carer support closer to home.
In Midlothian, we have monthly slots you can drop in to. In Edinburgh, please contact us first to book a time.
Contact us
To ask questions about any of the information above, get in touch with your local carer centre.
