We recognise the important role that carers have in service users’ care and recovery and aim to support carers’ rights to help them to continue in this role.
In addition to supporting carers in informing them of their right to receive a carer’s assessment and support plan, carers will also:
- Be offered a rapid response in an emergency situation
- Be treated with understanding and respect
- Be taken seriously when expressing concerns
- Be provided with information on methods of complaint
- Be helped with the difficulties of caring for a relative or friend
- Be informed of the range of relevant services and support available for carers
- Be encouraged to take time out when required, to prevent ‘burnout’ or to cope with stress
- Be included in care planning, implementation and review
- Know the names of the members of the support team
- Be consulted about a relative or friend’s discharge plan
- Be helped with problems created or made worse by caring for a relative or friend with a mental illness
- Be provided with information about the condition, treatment and possible side effects of medication
- Be provided with information if this is in the best interest of the patient and other members of the family
- Be offered culturally accepted treatment options, which are inclusive of the family
- Receive a service that recognises the importance of family, friends and carer involvement in service planning, implementation and evaluation
- Equality Act 2010 – protection from discrimination
- Care Act 2014 – right to carers’ needs assessment
- Children and Families Act 2014 - young carers and young adult carers
- Employment Rights Act 1996 – flexible working (if same employer for 26 weeks)
- Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016
- Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014
- The Carers (Scotland) Act 2018
The Carers Trust has information on their website covering how carers are protected by the law. See this page for details.