Achieving a better deal for carers

Over the next couple of years:

● The development of new initiatives to stimulate the care market, including the involvement of regional development agencies.

● Research into the self-funders of non-residential care.

● A review of the benefits to carers of independent living and individual budgets.

● The introduction of a pledge to “carer-proof” all new national government policies (see p18).

● Better services for disabled parents to reduce the number of children with too many caring responsibilities.

● The promotion of good practice regarding equality and carers, and a review of discrimination towards carers in employment and in the provision of goods and services.

● The development of advocacy services for carers.

● A review of Jobcentre Plus and how it relates to carers.

● A review of the right to request flexible working.

● A review of carers’ benefits and the introduction of short-term measures that reduce bureaucracy, improve access and improve equity.

● The inclusion of carers as a specific group in the terms of reference in legislation on the new Care Quality Commission.

● The inclusion of certain groups of carers as target groups under wider local health body targets to improve health and well-being.

● Implementation of the pledge in Our Health, Our Care, Our Say to provide carers with health checks.

● The promotion of good practice around the flexibility of health appointments for carers.

● An evaluation of the impact on services for carers of GP carer identification measures.

● Greater educational opportunities for those who have been out of work for some time and for older carers.

● The embedding of carers strategies within new local planning mechanisms, including local area agreements.

In three to five years:

● The development of more strategic planning of care service provision.

● Implementation of the findings from the research on self-funders of non-residential care.

● The development of individual budget pilots.

● The introduction of legislation to promote equality of opportunity for carers in the delivery of public services.

● The inclusion of carers as an integral part of monitoring by the new Care Quality Commission.

● The inclusion in the 2011 census of a question on carers.

In five to 10 years:

● Implementation of legislation to promote equality of opportunity for carers in the delivery of public services.

● Replacement of the carers’ allowance with a new benefit for carers that is fit for purpose.

● Production of new data tables from the 2011 Census to allow comparative work into local areas and social exclusion factors.