Carers' Rights

If you are regularly providing, or intending to provide, a substantial amount of care to someone to help them to live at home, then you have a right to a Carers Assessment.  This is an assessment of your needs (rather than the needs of the person you care for). 

A Carer is entitled to a Carers Assessment when the person being cared for: 

  • Has had a community care assessment    
  • Has had a review of their needs
  • Has refused a community care assessment or services                                    

The Carers Assessment will take into account:

  • Your ability to continue to provide care
  • Your own health and well-being
  • The impact caring has on your own life
  • Responsibilities such as work, education, leisure and family commitments

When we assess a carer you can expect us to look into the following:

  • The range of tasks you take on and the effect this has on you.
  • Your views and feelings about the care you provide.
  • Any support you have from family, friends and neighbours.
  • Tasks you would like help with.
  • Any particular stress factors or parts of caring you find particularly difficult.
  • Your emotional, mental and physical health.
  • Other responsibilities you have such as work, education, leisure and family commitments.
  • How willing and able you are to continue to provide care.
  • How well you understand the illness or disability of the person you care for and how it is likely to develop.

The results of your assessment and that of the person you are caring for will be taken into account when making a decision about the kind of help needed.  This is usually help to support you and the person you care for to carry on living in the place of their choice. 

What type of help is available?

We have set priorities on how and who we can help, these are eligibility criteria.  If you are not eligible for services you will be sign-posted to others sources of support. 

We are committed to helping carers to continue to look after the person they care for.  We recognise that carers have important experience and information to share. 

Is there a charge?

The person receiving care services may be asked to pay a charge for some services depending on their situation. 

Even if you are not eligible for services we can provide with helpful information. 

For more information on anything mentioned on this page contact CADT using the details given on the right or download the following documents: