No charges for support to carers in Scotland

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers in Scotland and the National Carer Organisations welcomed the announcement during yesterday’s debate on the Social Care (Self Directed) Support Scotland Bill that regulations will be put in place waiving charges for support to carers.

The Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 28 November 2012.
 
Michael Matheson MSP said: “I plan to use the powers provided as a result of section 16 of the Bill to issue regulations that will make clear that all charges for support to carers should be waived in whole.
 
“So, to be abundantly clear, carers will not be charged for the support they receive under Section 2 of the Bill.”
 
Welcome provisions for carers’ assessments
 
We further welcome provisions to issue directions to local authorities about the ways in which they should approach the substantial and regular test on access to carers’ assessments to promote greater consistency on the approach that is taken across the country on the provision of carers’ assessments.
 
Some carers do not meet the threshold for a carer’s assessment and should be supported in a preventative basis to maintain their health and wellbeing. The Minister also announced that the Government will issue statutory guidance to local authorities about the benefits of intervening early to support carers and to encourage local authorities to provide this support.
 
The Scottish Government also agreed that it will examine the issue of a greater role for carers in the assessment of the cared-for person and in ensuring that local authorities collaborate with the carer through the work to develop a carers’ rights charter.  Depending on the results of this work, the Government will then decide whether further action is needed.
 
Introduction of carer support duty: a complex issue
 
There was some disappointment as the power to support carers in the Bill will not be replaced with a duty.  It was agreed in the Parliament that this is a complex issue, with the risk that a duty may lead to formal eligibility criteria and, in some cases, carer support being targeted only at those in critical levels of need.  
 
Florence Burke, Director for Scotland of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers in Scotland, said: “Whilst we and the National Carer Organisations recognise the complexity of this issue, we will continue to press the case that providing support for carers as a matter of course prevents crisis, supports carers’ own health and wellbeing and, in the long run, saves the state significant amounts of money.”
 
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers in Scotland and the national carer organisations will be working with carers, the Scottish Government and others to ensure that all of these provisions best meet the needs of carers in Scotland.
 
Highlighting the role of carers, the National Carer Organisations emphasised that their contribution had played a vital role in campaigning and lobbying for improvements to the bill, and that these efforts had brought about the measures announced by the Government.