Carers (Scotland) Act 2016

31 Duty to prepare local carer strategy

(1) Each local authority and relevant health board must jointly prepare a local carer strategy.

(2) A local carer strategy means a document setting out—

(a) 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,

(b) an assessment of the demand for support to relevant carers,

(c) the support available to relevant carers in the authority’s area from—

(i) the authority,

(ii) the relevant health board,

(iii) such other persons and bodies as the authority and relevant health board consider appropriate,

(d) an assessment of the extent to which demand for support to relevant carers is currently not being met,

(e) plans for supporting relevant carers,

(f) plans for helping relevant carers put arrangements in place for the provision of care to cared-for persons in emergencies,

(g) an assessment of the extent to which plans for supporting relevant carers may reduce any impact of caring on relevant carers’ health and wellbeing,

(h) the intended timescales for preparing adult carer support plans and young carer statements,

(i) such other information as the authority and relevant health board consider appropriate.

(3) A local carer strategy must contain information relating to the particular needs and circumstances of young carers.

(4) Before preparing a local carer strategy, the local authority and the relevant health board must jointly—

(a) consult such persons and bodies representative of carers as they consider appropriate, and

(b) take such steps as they consider appropriate to involve relevant carers.

(5) In this section “relevant carers” means—

(a) carers who reside in the area of a local authority (whether or not they provide or intend to provide care for cared-for persons in that area), and

(b) carers who do not reside in the authority’s area but who provide or intend to provide care to cared-for persons in that area.

(6) In this Part “relevant health board”, in relation to a local authority, means—

(a) if the area of the local authority is the same as that of a health board, that health board,

(b) if the area of the local authority is not the same as that of a health board, the health board within whose area the area of the local authority falls.