What we can do to support you

As a carer, you may need support to help you in your caring role.

The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 came into effect on 1 April 2018 to ensure better and more consistent support for carers so that they can continue to care, if they wish, in better health and to have a life alongside caring.

The Act introduced new statutory requirements for how we plan and support adult carers and young carers.

Am I a carer?

The Act defined an adult carer as an individual who provides or intends to provide care for another individual.

A young carer is a carer who is under 18 years old or 18 years old and still at school.

In a change from previous legislation, carers no longer need to provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis to be recognised as a carer under the Act.

The duties in the Act include:

• A new right for carers to be offered or request an Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP). This replaces the previous carers assessment and carers journey or young carers statement, setting out their personal outcomes and identified needs.
• A duty for local authorities to provide support to carers, based on the carer's needs which meet the local eligibility criteria. We also have a power to provide support to meet carers' needs which do not meet these criteria.
• A requirement for local authorities to establish and maintain an information and advice service for carers. We must also publish and review a short breaks services statement.
• A duty for local authorities and health boards to 'take such steps as we consider appropriate' to involve carers and carer representatives in the planning and evaluation of services that support carers, including the preparation of the local carer strategy.
• A requirement to consider support in the form of a break from caring, and the desirability of breaks from caring provided on a planned basis.
• A duty on health boards to inform the carer and to invite their views before a cared-for person is discharged from hospital. These must be considered before the discharge of the cared-for person.

Working Together

University North Lanarkshire Health and Social Care are committed to working in partnership with carers to help us improve the way we provide support to carers of all ages.

Having access to the right support, at the right time and in the right place helps minimise carer (and cared for peoples’) stress and helps achieve wider social care and health policy objectives such as equality, social inclusion, and improved health outcomes.

As part of the North Lanarkshire Carer Strategy 2024-2027, there are five commissioned carer focused organisations within our area offering advice and \ or support based on your individual situation.

Adult Carers

North Lanarkshire Cares Together (NLCT) are committed to empowering carers in North Lanarkshire by providing them with the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to thrive in their vital roles. The NLCT Carer Information and Advice service is tailored to meet the unique needs of unpaid carers.

 NLCT are dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for carers to engage and participate in shaping the services and policies that impact their lives -by facilitating involvement at three key levels: Individual, Collective and Representation.

Find out more about North Lanarkshire Carers Together | Providing services and support for carers and their professional partners in North Lanarkshire

Lanarkshire Carers work throughout North Lanarkshire to deliver practical and emotional support to individuals and groups, through building relationships with carers, help them to identify and address their support needs and make sure they know their rights. Support is offered through Lanarkshire Carers Centre: Airdrie, Lanarkshire Carers Centre: Hamilton, as well as through outreach and in localities.

Lanarkshire Carers provide a tailored Equality and Diversity Carer Support Service, and support Young Adult Carers aged 18–25 years old and other groups of carers who are under-represented, as well as working in partnership with a range of organisations and services that also help carers.

One key focus is supporting the progression of Adult Carer Support Plans to help carers think about the support that may be needed now and in the future.

Find out more about Lanarkshire Carers - Lanarkshire Carers

Information About Young Carers

GIRFEC (Getting It Right for Every Child) is the overarching approach to supporting children and young people in Scotland. 

In addition, the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 entitles young carers to a young carer statement. Action for Children Young Carers Project can assist with this.

Action for Children (AFC) North Lanarkshire Young Carers Service supports young carers aged 8 - 18.

 AFC North Lanarkshire Young Carers Service raise awareness, identifies and provides direct support to children and young people who look after or help to look after someone in their family who is unwell or disabled, including children caring for parents who have mental health or substance misuse problems.

The direct support provided includes:

• Young Carer Statements
• Personal support, advice, and guidance
• Individual and group support
• Trips and activities during school holidays (young carer breaks)
• Help to access specialist services.
• Help to access universal services such as leisure and youth services.

Find out more about young carers' entitlements.

Hospital Discharge Support for unpaid and young carers

Getting Better Together Ltd. hosts the Community Liaison Service The service provides flexible Community and Voluntary Sector (CVS) post discharge support to unpaid carers and young carers in hospitals and NHS sites across Lanarkshire.

 The service meets with carers and young carers to offer advice on community supports including local carer support and refer to these when required. The service also provides a range of supports to help make the discharge process more manageable for people with a caring role. Information and support are provided both before and after discharge.

Additional information

• Direct practical and direct support provision to both carers and cared for including a day of discharge settling in service.
• Information on health and wellbeing supports, future planning, welfare rights and more.
• Promotion of carers rights and access to carer breaks.
• Liaise with Health and Social care professionals on behalf of carers when required.
• Information service for Health and Social Care professionals
• Advice on how to provide feedback on services and how to become involved in shaping future services.

Find out more about Community Liaison | Getting Better Together Ltd

Specialist Dementia Carer support

Alzheimer Scotland (carer support) - North Lanarkshire

Specialist Dementia Carer Support Link Workers work with families and carers of people living with dementia to live as well as possible with dementia, prepare for the future and maintain their own wellbeing.

The aim of the link worker role is to focus on meeting the needs and improve the quality of life, physical and mental wellbeing of carers of people with dementia. The aims are to:

• Reduce stress and distress.
• Maintain a healthy live/work balance.
• Reduce the number of people with dementia being admitted to long term care.

The carer link workers will provide emotional, psychosocial, and educational support to carers of people with dementia through individual and/or group sessions. Carers will be offered information, tools, connections, resources and plans to enable them to support the person with dementia to live as well as possible with their diagnosis. This support will also help to prepare for them for the future and maintain their own wellbeing.

Find out more about Lanarkshire Brain Health & Dementia Resource Centre - Alzheimer Scotland