Clackmannanshire Council Online

Support for Carers

Support for Carers

Are you a carer? 

Carers provide unpaid help and support to a relative, friend or neighbour who cannot manage to live independently due to frailty, illness, disability or addiction. You may become a carer at any stage in your life.  

As a carer, you may be doing any one or more of these things: 

• Providing physical support and help with personal care 
• Help with household tasks 
• Help with letters, phone calls and meetings 
• Help with legal matters for example powers of attorney or guardianship 
• Taking care of finances 
• Listening and encouraging 
• Help to get the person out and about or take part in social activities 
• Just being there for them 

Caring can be a rewarding and fulfilling. It can also be stressful and impact on your health and wellbeing. You may be looking for some help to become more confident as a carer, information about your rights as a carer or support to identify goals for your own life. 

For some people and at some times, caring for someone else can be a good experience. Some  carers talk about gaining confidence, skills and knowledge from being an unpaid carer. Caring for someone can also be stressful and isolating. You may feel as if there is noone you can speak to or that other people do not understand. 

Are you a young carer? 

A young carer is a carer who is under 18 years of age or over 18 and is still attending school. The person you care for may be a parent, brother, sister, grandparent or other family member. You may be the main carer, or you may be helping someone else. Please refer to our young carers web page.

Eligibility

Please refer to carer eligibility criteria for more information.

Signposting

For further information and support, please access the community directory or the HSCP carers page.

Forth Valley Carers Card 

If you are a carer, the Forth Valley carers card provides identification and recognition of your role as a carer. The card also ensures you are more easily identified by health and social care professionals. 

Service specifics

What is the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016? 

The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 introduced new rights for carers. You can request an Adult Carer Support Plan which will set out your personal outcomes and identified needs. There is a duty to provide support for carers. 

To find out contact details for your local carers centre for help and advice, please visit the HSCP carers page.  

Adult Carer Support Plan  

What is an Adult Carer Support Plan?  

The Adult Carer Support Plan is an opportunity to express your views and needs as an unpaid carer. An adult carer support plan (ACSP) is the formal name for a carers assessment and helps to identify your needs, wellbeing, and support options as an unpaid carer. 

The adult carer support plan is not about judging your ability to care or the way in which you carry out your caring role. It is an opportunity for you to identify what matters to you and how you can best be supported. The support plan must include the following information:  

• The nature and extent of the care you provide, and how this impacts your wellbeing,  
• how willing you are and how able you are to continue to provide care,  
• emergency plans,  
• future care plans,  
• information about the support that will be provided to meet your identified needs,  
• consideration about whether your needs can be met by support to the person you care for or by access to services generally available in the local area for example information and advice services, money advice services,  
• whether your support should include a short break from caring /planned regular breaks from caring,  
• when the plan should be reviewed (and in subsequent reviews what impact the plan has had on achieving your personal outcomes).  

Who should I contact to request an adult carer support plan?  

You or your representative should contact us using the details at the bottom of this page.  

Who sees the adult carer support plan?

The person you are working with on the plan and yourself.  In addition it may be important to share information with other people who can help you to achieve your desired outcomes. You'll be asked to allow this sharing before it happens. No one should see your plan without your permission.   

What support/services can Social Services offer?  

• An opportunity to discuss your needs and what services are available including the option of self-directed support for you as a carer  
• Additional services to the person you care for can be provided, if assessed as required  
• Information on carer’s support services and other sources of support  
• Contact details of who can offer support at times of pressure  

What can you do if you are not satisfied with the assessment or the service?  

If you want to comment or complain about the way the assessment is carried out or the quality of service you received, contact the team manager or service manager.  You can also refer to our comments and complaints page.

Process

What help can I get as a carer? 

Across Clackmannanshire, there are many supports and services that can help you in your caring role.  These services include information and advice, emotional support, carers groups, money advice, training and direct support services for you and for the person you care for. 

Contact details

Where can I go for adult carer help and advice?

If you have any queries, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page.

You can also contact the local Carers Centre for information and advice on  01259 226839.