Getting in on the Act Conference Carers and the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act

Wales Census figures There are over 370,000 carers in Wales – up 9% from 2001 to % increase in older carers, with 87,000 older people in Wales devoting their retirement to caring for ill partners or their own ageing parents The greatest % increase was in those caring over 50 hours per week.

Challenges to caring in Wales Quality of care services Time off from caring Access to information Cuts to services Finances and welfare rights Juggling paid work and caring Looking after your health as a carer

The Act repeals the majority of existing community care legislation including: The Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995 The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 The Carers Strategies (Wales) Measure 2010

New definition of a carer (section 3.4) The Act provides a new definition of a carer “a person who provides or intends to provide care for an adult or disabled child” This removes the requirement that carers must be providing “a substantial amount of care on a regular basis”.

Underpinning principles: Wellbeing (section 5) New duty on LAs and LHB to promote an individual’s well-being; including children, adults in need and carers. Population assessments and Prevention (sections ) New duty to assess the need for care and support in their area, the needs of carers and whether those needs are being met (sec.14). LAs will also have a duty to provide a range of preventative services in their area (sec.15).

Carers Assessments (section 24) Combines the existing three Carers Acts as well as removing the requirement to ‘request’ an assessment. Assessments apply to carers of any age and must include: whether the carer is able/willing to care the outcomes the carer wishes in day-to-day life, whether the carer works or wishes to (and/or) to participate in education, training or recreation

Duty to provide care & support for individuals in need (sections 32) If a local authority determines that a person’s needs meet the eligibility criteria then the authority must: consider what could be done to meet those needs; consider whether it would impose a charge for doing those things, and if so, determine the amount of that charge.

Duty to provide care & support for individuals in need (sections 32) This duty applies to adults (sec.35), to disabled children (sec.37), and to carers whether they are adults (sec.40) or a child (sec.42). A local authority must also consider whether a person would benefit from the provision of preventative services (sec.15) or information, advice and assistance (sec.17) or anything else that may be available in the community.

Meeting the needs of an adult carer (section 40) Unlike the previous legislation there is now a specific legal duty to meet the needs for support of a carer following a carers assessment, with three conditions (residency of cared for person, eligibility criteria and charging) Meeting the needs of a child carer (section 42) The same duty applies to young carers

Role of the third sector (section 15) Carers Wales Part of Carers UK, we are a carers membership organisation : we give expert advice, information and support we connect carers so no-one has to care alone; training, events, online we campaign together for lasting change we innovate to find new ways to reach and support carers; Jointly App

Role of the third sector (section 15) Carers Trust Wales Part of Carers Trust, a UK-wide membership organisation. Carers Trust Wales works across Wales to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring. Carers Trust Wales include 14 network partners which deliver vital local services to carers across Wales We and our network partners aim to ensure that information advice and practical support are available to all carers.

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