Home | Press | Publications | What We Do | Who We Are | Search | Site Map | Contacts | Links
Consultations
> Publications

< Previous | Contents | Next >

REPORT OF THE SCOTTISH CARERS' LEGISLATION WORKING GROUP

HOW THE REVIEW WAS DONE

1. The Carers Legislation Working Group was set up in January 2000 by the then Deputy Minister for Community Care, Iain Gray.

GROUP MEMBERSHIP

2. The Group was made up of representatives from each of the 5 main carers' organisations in Scotland (Carers National Association Scotland, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, The Coalition of Carers in Scotland, Crossroads Scotland and Shared Care Scotland) who had all been involved in drawing up the Strategy For Carers In Scotland. It also contained 1 carer and 1 service user representative, 1 joint representative from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the Association of Directors of Social Work (ADSW) as well as officials from the Scottish Executive Community Care Policy Division, Solicitor's Department and Social Work Services Inspectorate.

3. Group Membership

REMIT

4. The Group's original remit was to:

• develop legislative proposals by end September 2000 which would empower statutory agencies to offer carers direct support. The proposals should address the specific needs of young carers aged under 16 and parent carers of disabled children, and should recognise the need to protect the rights of the cared-for person and;
• to consider the need for legislative change to provide for direct payments to carers.

5. It was subsequently agreed that the September deadline should be extended due to the complexities of some of the topics for discussion. The Group completed its work in January 2001.

SUBJECTS DISCUSSED

6. These were agreed by the Group at its first meeting and reviewed towards the end of the Group's life to ensure that key topics had been adequately discussed. The key areas identified for discussion were:

• Carers Assessments
• Services To Carers
• Hidden Carers
• Former Carers
• Young Carers
• Carers from Black and Minority Ethnic Backgrounds
• Carers From Rural Areas
• Direct Payments For Carers
• Charging for Services to Support Carers

OUTPUT

7. The Group was asked to consider at all stages of its considerations whether any recommendations for change could best be dealt with through legislation or through guidance, dissemination of best practice, or in other ways. This report covers that wider range in order to offer a comprehensive view of how carers should be supported better in the future.

8. The Group believes it is essential that the small number of legislative changes it has proposed should be supported and expanded upon by comprehensive and authoritative guidance from the Executive to statutory agencies. This new guidance on issues affecting carers will offer the opportunity to reinforce or clarify important messages given in previous guidance on carers' legislation and short breaks. The new guidance should be developed through an inclusive consultative process involving carers' representatives and organisations.

< Previous | Contents | Next >

The information contained on this WWW site is Crown Copyright but may be reproduced without formal permission or charge for personal or in-house use. Privacy and Content Disclaimer.

For general enquiries about this web site email ceu@scotland.gov.uk or fill out our online questionnaire.