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4 CORE VALUES AND PRINCIPLES
19. Access to assessment and provision should be fair and consistent. There should be no discrimination on the grounds of race, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief or type of community setting. Health boards and local authorities have a general responsibility under the Equality Act 2006 24 for ensuring that discrimination does not occur.
20. Persons needing equipment and adaptations and their carers need to understand clearly the assessment process; what equipment, or adaptations, may be available to them from local authorities, health boards, and other agencies, as well as any costs involved. They should receive advice and information to enable them to participate in informed decisions about the outcomes they wish to achieve. Any decisions made, and the reasons behind them, should be transparent from the outset for individuals, carers, family and staff.
21. Health boards and local authorities should bear in mind that a carer providing regular and substantial care has the right to an assessment of their own needs as a carer. Under the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 25, NHS Boards have developed Carer Information Strategies. These strategies, in place since May 2007, should improve carer identification, information and training to help carers continue in their caring role.
22. The risks and benefits to the individual of a change of location or support should be considered carefully before any move or change is confirmed. Neither the Health Board nor the local authority should unilaterally withdraw from funding an existing care package without appropriate reassessment and identification of the body responsible for funding. This also applies to the transition from children services to adult services.
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