Carers (Scotland) Act 2016

The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 was passed

in the Scottish Parliament on February 4,

2016. The Act came in to effect on April 1,

2018 and will ensure better and more

consistent support for carers and young

carers so that they can continue to care, if

they so wish, in better health and to have

a life alongside caring.

The Act is designed to support carers’ health and wellbeing and help make caring more sustainable. Measures include: • a duty for local authorities to provide support to carers, based on the carer’s identified needs which meet the local eligibility criteria • a specific adult carer support plan (ACSP) and young carer statement (YCS) to identify carers’ needs and personal outcomes • a requirement for local authorities to have an information and advice service for carers which provides information and advice on, amongst other things, emergency and future care planning, advocacy, income maximisation and carers’ rights • a requirement for the responsible local authority to consider whether that support should be provided in the form of a break from caring and the desirability of breaks from caring provided on a planned basis.