Carers Rights Day

• ensure carers are aware of their rights

• let carers know where to get help and support

• raise awareness of the needs of carers

 

 

A carer (also known as an unpaid carer) is generally defined as someone who provides, or intends to provide, care for another individual. They may care for an older person, someone who is disabled, has a long-term illness, mental health issues or is affected by alcohol or drug misuse. 

 

Adult carers are aged 18 and over and young carers are children or young people under the  age of 18, or 18 if still at school.

Caring includes physical, practical and emotional support. It could be for a few hours a week, such as picking up prescriptions and preparing meals, to providing emotional or personal care,  day and night, 365 days a year.

 

We all probably know someone who provides care to another person. Some people don’t realise they are carers and consider the support they provide to be “just something they do”  for family or a friend. The impact of Coronavirus has been particularly difficult for unpaid carers with many having new or increased caring roles, or reduction in support the person they care for received.

 

Caring can be both rewarding and exhausting. Carers may find it easier to continue caring if  they are supported in their caring role. 

 

Facts & Figures on Carers: (sources Valuing Carers-2015 Carers Week 2020 & State of Caring 2021) 

 

Every day, millions of people are caring; looking after family members, partners or friends with varying disabilities, conditions or illnesses. Unpaid carers play a vital role in looking after people and propping up the health and social care systems. In 2015 it was estimated unpaid carers saved the UK economy £132 billion a year. 

 

Prior to the Coronavirus pandemic it was estimated the UK had over 9million unpaid carers  (approx 1 in 6 of UK adult population). At the height of the Covid pandemic estimates showed the number of unpaid UK carers to increase by 4.5million to 13.6 million (approx 1 in 4 of UK adult population). It was estimated unpaid carers saved the UK economy £193 billion a year during the pandemic. Five million people in the UK are jugging caring responsibilities with work, approx 1 in 7 of UK workforce.

 

 

The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 was introduced in April 2018 and placed a number of new duties to support unpaid carers in a different way. These included:

• Adult Carer Support Plans or Young Carer Statements

Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP) or Young Carer Statement (YCS) if under 18 years 

old, are a way of identifying the needs of a carer. They look at the carer’s roles, how it affects them and what support might be needed.

Anyone who provides or intends to provide care on a regular basis can have an ACSP or YCS, no matter the amount of care you provide, your level of need or your financial means. 

• Providing an information and advice service for carers.

• Preparing local carer strategies (for example the Aberdeenshire Adult Carer Strategy details support to unpaid carers, aged over 18, and the Aberdeenshire Young Carer Strategy for young carers, aged under 18).

• Involving carers in the hospital discharge of the person they care for. 

The intention is to support carers in a more flexible, person-centred way before they reach breaking point.

 

 

Quarriers provide a Carer Support Service for adult carers in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray. Quarriers also provide a carer support service for young carers in Aberdeenshire and Moray, whilst Barnardo’s provide a carer support service to young carers in Aberdeen City. Angus Carers Centre provide a carer support service for adult and young carers in Angus.

 

GPs, district nurses, health visitors, social workers and school staff may be able to assist carers to contact their local carer support service in other council areas or visit Care Information Scotland Carer Centres to find out more. The Carer Support team within Aberdeenshire Council / Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership can also help with any queries on this and can be contacted by email carersupport@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or Tel 01467 536677.

Carers can self-refer by contacting their local carer support centre or can be referred for example by GPs, Social Work Staff or School staff. 

 

 

Quarriers are commissioned to provide a Carer Support Service in Aberdeenshire for both adults and young carers. They can support carers to complete an Adult Carer Support Plan or Young Carer Statement, as explained above, which look at the carer’s roles, how it affects them and what support might be needed. **

 

Quarriers can also offer advice, information and resources to carers, develops skills and confidence, assist carers to complete an emergency plan and provide opportunities to meet other carers. Meetings can be online or in person and include carer support cafes, 

mindfulness groups and activity sessions for young carers.

 

For more information contact Quarriers by email aberdeenshirecarers@quarriers.org.uk or Tel 01467 538700

 

 

Quarriers Virtual Carers Centre - a hub of information and resources for carers of all ages. 

This includes national and local information and resources for carers, including Self-directed Support (SDS), Power of Attorney and Mental Health.

 

Quarriers Online Learning for Carers -QLearn Carers can access Quarriers’ training courses online. Courses include Acquired Brain Injury Awareness, Dementia Awareness, Introduction to Positive Approaches to Behaviour, Safer Handling of People and many more. Quarriers Aberdeenshire also now offer a Self-Advocacy course for carers. For more information contact Quarriers (contact details as above).

 

 

Many carers are also juggling work with caring responsibilities, whilst some carers have to give up their job because it’s too much.

 

Aberdeenshire Council is recognised by Carer Positive as an established employer who provides a supportive working environment for employees who also have an unpaid caring role out of the workplace. 

 

CarersGuidanceFactsheet.pdf (aberdeenshire.gov.uk) for Aberdeenshire Council Employees only:

If you or you line manager have any questions on any specific HR policies, you can contact askHR. :Log in to the askHR self-service portal on the Arcadia homepage or Email askHR@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or Tel 01467 534400.

 

 

There are a number of ALDO courses available on carer awareness and support. 

• Carer Awareness – Level 1 will increase awareness of those with a caring role and ensure that carers have the information and support they need at the right time.

• Caring Counts in the Workplace is for managers who are interested in finding out more about carers and understanding their own role in identifying and supporting carers in the workplace. 

 

• Quarriers Aberdeenshire Carer Support Service for unpaid adult and young carers, 

email aberdeenshirecarers@quarriers.org.uk or Tel 01467 538700

• Carer Support team at Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership / 

Aberdeenshire Council, email Carersupport@aberdeenshire.gov.uk  or Tel 01467 

536677

 

Aberdeenshire Council Carer Support www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/carersupport

www.mygov.scot/carer-support

 

 

There will be young carers in primary and secondary schools throughout Aberdeenshire, but some young carers may prefer to keep their caring role private from school or may not be  aware they are young carers. A young carer is anyone under the age of 18 (or 18 if still at school) who cares for a family member or friend due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction.  Young carers may look after a parent, brother, sister, grandparent or someone else close to them. Young carers may look after the cared-for person all by themself or may be helped by others in the family. 

 

Caring takes many forms and may include: 

 

• practical things like cooking and cleaning 

• helping out with younger brothers or sisters 

• listening and reassuring the person when they worry 

• paying bills 

• giving medicine 

• helping with dressing and washing 

• keeping them company 

 

Young carers are encouraged to talk to a teacher, school nurse or GP about their caring role or they can contact Quarriers directly.

 

 

Every young carer’s situation is different. There may be times when they are proud to be a carer but it can also be difficult. It’s not the amount of time spent caring that may matter, it’s the impact it has on the young carers’ life. 

 

 

• find it difficult to concentrate and focus on things, particularly in school 

• feel stressed or anxious 

• suffer from lack of sleep because they are up during the night 

• not be eating properly 

• have restricted social opportunities 

• have a bad back from lifting and carrying

 

Quarriers provide a Young Carer Support Service in Aberdeenshire. They can support young carers to complete a Young Carer Statement, as explained above (which look at the carer’s roles, how it affects them and what support might be needed).

 

Quarriers can also offer advice, information and resources to carers, develops skills and confidence and provide opportunities to meet other carers, such as activity sessions during  school holidays.

 

For more information contact Quarriers by email aberdeenshirecarers@quarriers.org.uk  or Tel 01467 538700.

 

 

Young carers in Aberdeenshire can now apply for a Health and Wellbeing Grant to take time out from their caring role and enjoy activities, hobbies or spend time with friends. Young carers can decide what to buy with the grant, as long as it helps to look after their health and wellbeing. The grant is a one-off payment that does not need to be paid back.

 

To apply for the grant, contact Quarriers Aberdeenshire Carer Support Service on 01467  538700 to ask for help to complete a Young Carer Statement. This will determine if a young carer can apply for the grant or if they would benefit more from an individual budget for ongoing support.

 

Young carers aged 11 to 18 can access a nationwide Young Scot package of discounts and opportunities. The Young Carers Package includes discounts at certain stores and leisure venues as well as other opportunities, such as free cinema tickets and CV advice. The aim is to support young carers to make the most of their leisure time, learn and feel more confident. 

 

To find out more about the young carers package and how to access it visit https://young.scot/young-carers The Young Scot website has lots of other useful young carer information, including a Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 Jargon Buster for Young Carers, which explains some of the words and phrases in the Act.

 

 

Young carers aged 16 to 18 and living in Scotland, may be eligible for a £300 annual payment to help access life opportunities that are the norm for other young people. The young carer must provide care for an average of 16 hours or more per week and the person/or people being cared for must receive a qualifying benefit. Further information including how to apply can be found at https://www.mygov.scot/young-carer-grant 

 

 

Young carers in Aberdeenshire can undertake a SVQ qualification relating to their caring role. The skills, experience, and knowledge a carer has from providing care can be transferred into a SVQ, which is recommended for S3 upwards. For more information visit Aberdeenshire Council’s Carer Training and Qualifications webpage or email  carersvq@aberdeenshire.gov.uk  

There is currently a waiting list for the qualification when the cared-for person is a child, but spaces are available for when the cared-for is an adult.

 

Quarriers Aberdeenshire have recently recruited a Young Carer Toolkit Worker who will work with staff in both primary and secondary schools, to help raise young carer awareness and promote support available to young carers.

In the coming months we will launch the “Aberdeenshire Schools Young Carers Charter For Action”. It is hoped schools will sign up and commit to being a Carer Friendly School, supporting pupils who have caring responsibilities. More information to follow!