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Carers

Information on working with carers, including assessments and personal budgets

Carers

The Care Act sets out a duty for the Local Authority to assess the eligible needs of a carer. In the Care Act, a carer over 18 is defined by " an adult who provides or intends to provide care for another adult (an "adult needing care").

Carers Assessment guidance provides a legal framework and procedural information for supporting  informal/unpaid carers in Adult Social Care.

When a person and ,or, their carer moves out of the borough, guidance on Continuity of care when moving out of Camden is available on Camden Care Choices.  The guidance includes information that needs to be shared to ensure that care continues uninterrupted. 

Practitioners must support a carer to plan for their carer's conversation and should consider the following:

  • send the carer a list of questions in advance, this gives the carer time to think about their concerns and strengths
  • discuss with the carer if they would like to invite a friend/family member to their assessment
  • discuss independent advocacy and gain consent if the carer has substantial difficulty in communicating their wishes and outcomes
  • encourage carers to consider plans for emergencies and their long term future
  • consider transition periods, the effect on a carer and the need for robust support planning; such as, transition from young carer to adult carer, transition from hospital to community, transition from home to nursing care or supported living
  • reflect on theories and research about relationships and how this impacts the carer, cared for and community aspects. Issues such as attachment, loss and life changes can enhance our understanding of the carers world, both internal and external.
Last updated: 16 August 2024