Carers and social care
Government will ensure that people with caring responsibilities receive the support they need by:
- reforming the system of social care to give more control to individuals and their carers
- enabling carers to maintain a balance between their caring responsibilities and a life outside caring, including paid employment, wherever feasible.
Carers strategy
The Government published its updated carers strategy “Recognised, valued and supported: next steps for the Carers Strategy” on 25 November 2010. This sets out the Government’s priorities for carers and identifies the actions that the Government will take over the next four years to ensure the best possible outcomes for carers and those they support. The strategy applies to England only and is led by the Department of Health. Carers policy in Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of the Scottish and Welsh Governments.
- Recognised, valued and supported: next steps for the Carers Strategy – carers strategy got England (Department of health website)
- Carers Strategy – Scotland (Scottish Government website)
- Carers – Wales (Welsh Government website)
Welfare support for carers
With the introduction of the Welfare Reform Bill, the Government announced that Carer’s Allowance will continue to exist as a universal benefit providing an independent income for carers and recognition of the important role they play.
Most working-age carers want to retain a foothold in the labour market not just for their financial well-being but also to enhance their own lives and the lives of those they care for. As part of its reforms the Government intends to provide support for carers and improve their opportunities to maintain links with the world of work.
Social care
The Government knows that urgent reform of the wider social care system in England is needed to provide an affordable and sustainable funding system for long-term care and support. That is why the Government set up an independent Commission on the Funding of Care and Support chaired by Andrew Dilnot that provided its advice and recommendations in July 2011.
- Commission on Funding of Care and Support (Department of Health website)
On the 15 September 2011, the Government launched “Caring for our future: shared ambitions for care and support“ – an engagement exercise with people who use care and support services, carers, local councils, care providers, and the voluntary sector about the priorities for improving care and support. This engagement exercise will run until 2 December 2011 and the results from the discussions will inform a Government White Paper and a progress report on funding reform that will be published in spring 2012.
- Caring for our future: shared ambitions for care and support (Department of Health website)
Carers policy in Scotland and Wales is devolved and is the responsibility of the Scottish and Welsh Governments.
- Health and social care – Scotland (Scottish Government website)
- Social services and social care – Wales (Welsh Government website)
