Carers and Direct Payments Act (Northern Ireland) 2002

Information for carers

7.—(1) An authority shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure—

(a) that information is generally available in its area concerning the right of a carer to request an assessment under section 1(1) or (2); and

(b) that those in its area who might benefit from such an assessment receive the information relevant to them;

and nothing in subsection (2) or (3) prejudices the generality of this subsection.

(2) Where it appears to an authority that—

(a) an adult is cared for by a carer; and

(b) the adult is a person for whom the authority may provide personal social services,

the authority shall notify the carer that he may be entitled to request an assessment under section 1(1).

(3) Where—

(a) an authority proposes to carry out an assessment under the 1972 Order of the needs of a person for personal social services; and

(b) it appears to the authority that that person is cared for by a carer,

the authority shall notify the carer that he may be entitled to request an assessment under section 1(2).

(4) After Article 18C of the Children Order (inserted by section 9) there shall be inserted—

“Information for carers

18D.— (1) An authority shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure—

(a) that information is generally available in its area concerning the right of a person to request an assessment under Article 17A or 18A; and

(b) that those in its area who might benefit from such an assessment receive the information relevant to them;

and nothing in paragraph (2) or (3) prejudices the generality of this paragraph.

(2) Where it appears to an authority that—

(a) a child (“the carer”) provides or intends to provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis for a person aged 18 or over; and

(b) the person cared for is someone for whom it may provide personal social services,

the authority shall notify the carer that he may be entitled to request an assessment under Article 17A(1).

(3) Where it appears to an authority that—

(a) a disabled child is cared for by a carer who has parental responsibility for the child; and

(b) the disabled child and his family are persons for whom the authority may provide services under Article18,

the authority shall notify the carer that he may be entitled to request an assessment under Article 18A(1).

(4) Where—

(a) an authority proposes to carry out an assessment of the needs of a disabled child for the purposes of this Part or section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 53); and

(b) it appears to the authority that that child is cared for by a carer,

the authority shall notify the carer that he may be entitled to request an assessment under Article 18A(2).”.