The Rights of a Carer
As stated with the Social Services and Well being Act Wales 2014 the local authority must;
- Assess the extent to which the care is able, psychically, emotionally and mentally, and will continue to be able to provide care for the person for whom the carer provides or intends to provide care.
- Asses to the extent to which the carer is willing and will continue to be willing to care
- In the case to who an adult seeks to identity the outcomes that the carer wishes to achieve
Useful Documents
Carers Assesment
A carer’s assessment is a legal entitlement for all carers. It is your opportunity to discuss with your local authority how caring affects your life, what support or services you need and whether you are willing and able to carry on caring.
A local authority, in carrying out a needs assessment under this section must have regard to;
- whether the carer works or wishes to do so,
- whether the carer is participating in or wishes to participate in education, training or any leisure activity, ad
- in the case if a carer who is a child –
- the development needs of the child, and
- whether it is appropraite for the child to provide the care (or any care) in the light of those needs.
A local authority, in carrying out a needs assessment under this section, must involve;
- the carer, and
- where feasible, the person for whom the carer provides or intends to provide care.
Direct Payments
Direct payments are cash payments made by social services to people who are assessed as needing support this includes carers. You can use the money to employ a personal assistant for support – this may be a family member if preferred. Buy care from a registered care agency or make your own private arrangements. Social services must offer you the option of direct payment.
The Care and Support (Direct Payments) (Wales) Regulations 2015 states who is eligible for direct payments. Under the Act, local authorities have powers to provide direct payments under:
- Section 50 – to meet the care and support needs of an adult
- Section 51 – to meet the care and support needs of a child
- Section 52 – to meet the support needs of a carer
Where eligible care and support needs, or support needs in the case of a carer, have been identified and that individual, or their representative, expresses a wish to receive one, direct payments must be made available in all cases where they enable personal outcomes to be achieved. A local authority must be innovative and creative when working in partnership with recipients or their representatives to explore ways a direct payment can be used to secure personal outcomes.
Direct payments must only be refused where it is clear after the extensive exploration that direct payment would not
secure the outcomes required
