Carers (Scotland) Act 2016

Section 31 - Duty to prepare local carer strategy

95. Subsection (1) provides that each local authority and relevant health board must jointly prepare a local carer strategy.

96. Subsection (2) sets out what the strategy is and what information it must contain. This must include—

• plans for identifying relevant carers and obtaining information about the care they provide or intend to provide to cared-for persons in the local authority’s area;

• an assessment of the demand for support to carers in the authority’s area;

• the support which is available to carers in the authority’s area, whether from the authority itself, the relevant health board or any other persons or bodies that the local authority and relevant health board consider appropriate;

• an assessment of the extent to which demand for support to relevant carers is currently not being met;

• plans for supporting relevant carers;

• plans for helping relevant carers put arrangements in place for the provision of care to cared-for persons in emergencies;

• an assessment of the extent to which plans for supporting relevant carers may reduce any impact of caring in relevant carers’ health and wellbeing;

• the intended timescales for preparing adult carer support plans and young carers statements; and

• any other information as the authority and relevant health board consider appropriate.

97. Subsection (3) requires that a local carer strategy must contain information relating to the particular needs and circumstances of young carers in its area.

98. Subsection (4) requires that, before preparing its local carer strategy, a local authority and relevant health board must jointly consult with such persons and bodies representatives of carers they consider appropriate. They must also take such steps as they consider appropriate to involve carers. Subsection (5) defines what is meant by “relevant carers”: these are carers who reside in the authority’s area (regardless of where they provide care), and carers who live outwith the authority’s area but provide care to a cared-for person in the area.

99. Subsection (6) defines what is meant by “relevant health board”.