Current guidance on young carers for health professionals (Scotland)

Here are the main pieces of law and guidance affecting young carers in Scotland.

Health and Community Care (Scotland) 2002, Section 9 Young Carers -

The Community Care & Health (Scotland) Act 2002 extended the rights to an assessment to all young carers providing ‘regular and significant’ care.  The Act also brings in new requirements for statutory agencies to ensure carers are aware of their rights, and recognise fully the care being provided by carers.  The Scottish Executive issued final guidance on 31 March 2003 to local authorities and the NHS on how to implement this new legislation, and support carers as key partners in providing care

Guidance on implementation of Support for Carers  in the Health and Community Care (Scotland) 2002, Section 9 Young Carers

Performance Measures for Young Carers Assessments

Report of the JPIAF sub-group on single shared assessment performance measures for carers’ assessments

Scottish Carers Strategy, Strategy for Carers in Scotland, Scottish Executive

The NHS and Carers

The NHS has an important role in supporting carers.

The next Scottish Executive’s Planning and Priorities Guidance for the NHS will require Health Boards and Trusts to give appropriate recognition to the needs of carers and the NHS’s response will be monitored by the Scottish Executive in the normal way.

We will take the needs of carers into account in the training of GPs, primary care teams and social workers. In addition, we currently fund the Carers’ National Association’s training unit which from January 2000 will provide a range of courses for health, social care and other professionals.