Skip to the content
Today, the Government launched a cross-government Carers Action Plan signed by four Ministers, across health and social care, welfare, work and education. It includes a number of significant developments for carers in the last couple of years – taking action for carers further than before. Carers UK, along with other charities who support Carers Week, has been calling for cross-government action for a number of years and this Carers Action Plan is a welcome first step.
Carers’ support has been estimated to be worth £152 billion a year in England, and yet they face challenges juggling paid work with their caring responsibilities, are less likely to be in paid work and more likely to face poverty and be in poor health. Most people don’t have a choice about the amount of care they provide, which for many has increased significantly in recent years. Carers want to see a better future for themselves and others providing unpaid care.
This plan includes a number of key actions including changes to carers’ benefits and a call for evidence from the DWP; a consultation on future workplace rights, including paid carer’s leave and an extended period of unpaid leave, plus future developments with the NHS App and Single Patient Record that should better enable support for carers in managing care. The plan also heralds a Carers Charter setting out carers’ rights and entitlements. The plan also sets out a commitment to pull together information for unpaid carers on the main government website: gov.uk in response to need-to-know entitlements and earlier support.
Emily Holzhausen CBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers UK said:
“This is a positive step forwards for unpaid carers, recognising that all too often they face fragmented services, barriers to support and a lack of recognition for the essential role they play looking after family and friends.
“Carers’ lives do not fit neatly within the remit of a single department. The challenges they face span health, social care, employment, education, housing and welfare. Carers UK is encouraged to see a more joined-up approach, bringing government departments together to prioritise carers’ needs, outline who is responsible and how progress can be tracked. For carers, this means a better chance of seeing meaningful improvements.
“Today’s action plan commits to annual public reporting, providing greater transparency and accountability within government. Given the growing amount of unpaid care provided by families and close friends up and down the country, it is an important milestone and one we hope will be a catalyst for further progress.
“There are also critical decisions for the future that could positively impact carers’ lives – such as the outcome of the Casey Commission. If there is more investment in social care and breaks for carers, it could transform many families’ lives, including helping them to juggle work and care.
“Carers UK hopes this Action Plan can be a stepping stone towards a well-funded, cross-government national carers strategy, something we have long campaigned for as the best way to deliver lasting change for unpaid carers across every aspect of their lives.”
Note to editors:
Established by Carers UK, Carers Week is an annual awareness raising campaign which recognises the vital contribution made by the UK’s 5.8 million carers.
Carers Week is supported by Age UK, Carers Trust, MND Association, Rethink Mental Illness, The ME Association and the Lewy Body Society. To find out more, click here.