More respite urged for Scotland’s carers

Improvements to the way unpaid carers are supported in Scotland by
local and national government have been demanded by the Scottish
executive’s innovation team.

A report from Care21 recommends the executive develop a national
strategic framework with service providers to ensure unpaid carers
are given a statutory entitlement to breaks from caring, with or
without the cared person.

One of the main issues highlighted by carers in research for the
report was a lack of respite from their caring role.

The report recommends the introduction of a national “expert carer”
programme to enable people to develop their own skills, knowledge
and expertise. It should be delivered locally, include generic and
specific training, be free and be particularly tailored to the
needs of carers from ethnic minority communities.

A substantial component of the basic training of all health and
social care professionals should relate to the role and needs of
unpaid carers, it adds.

Care21 admitted that extra resources from the executive and
Westminster would be needed to implement its proposals. The
executive said it would examine the recommendations in detail.

Report from
www.opm.co.uk/scottishcarers