“The introduction of the Carers Act today marks another significant step forward in strengthening carers rights, and protecting carers from being disadvantaged or discriminated against because of their caring role. Now we must work together to ensure the legislation is working consistently for carers across Scotland.” Don Williamson, CEO, Shared Care Scotland
The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 takes effect on 1 April 2018.
Put simply, the purpose of the Carers Act is to ensure better and more consistent support for unpaid carers across Scotland.
To do this the Act enhances the rights of unpaid carers in order that they can continue to care, if they are able and willing to do so, and can have a life alongside caring.
This toolkit has been produced by Shared Care Scotland on behalf of the National Carer Organisations (NCO) to help facilitate clear, accurate and consistent communications on the Carers Act. We hope that through this work unpaid carers in Scotland, and the organisations working to support them, will be able to access the information they require, or to know where to go to find it.
The toolkit is very much intended as a working document that will be updated and amended as the Carers Act is embedded in Scotland. As such, we hope that the guide will be used in the way that works best for you, whether that is a core text that can simply be cut and pasted, or as a starting point to help shape your thinking on how to communicate the Act to your audience. Similarly, the tools are there to be used as they are, or adjusted and adapted as needed, and feedback is very welcome.