Commissioner’s Blog: Carers Rights Day 2024

Without the wide range of support provided by unpaid carers in Wales, many of whom are older people, our health and social care systems would simply be unable to cope.

Providing this crucial care – worth billions of pounds a year – often has a significant impact on the health and well-being of carers, which is why it is so important they can access the help and entitlements available that can provide much-needed support.

We know, however, that many unpaid carers are not aware of their rights or what they are entitled to, meaning they are missing out, often facing significant challenges alone.

That’s why the theme of this year’s Carers Rights Day – Recognising your Rights – is important to help raise awareness and share helpful information and resources so that carers can better understand what’s available and where they can get help if they need it.

But it’s also hugely important that public bodies play their part by meeting their duties to ensure that carers’ rights are upheld.

It’s therefore highly concerning that a recent report from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has found that a number of local authorities are failing in their duties to uphold carers’ rights. Shockingly, in the areas investigated, just 2.8% of carers had received a carer’s assessment – something they have a right to – and that only 1.5% had an assessment that led to a support plan.

These figures represent an alarming and unacceptable gap between policy and practice, and raise serious questions about how many carers in other parts of Wales are facing similar experiences, particularly as they reflect the findings of similar research undertaken by ADSS last year. It’s also important to remember that these figures are also probably even lower in real terms, given that a significant number of people providing unpaid care do not recognise themselves as a ‘carer’.

It is also greatly concerning, after nearly a decade of these duties being in place, that many carers are not being fully informed about their rights, including their right to advocacy, information is often poor and there are inconsistencies in language and terminology that cause confusion and create barriers.

Local authorities across Wales should be carefully examining the Ombudsman’s findings, as well as the good practice identified in the report, and taking any action required to ensure they are fulfilling their statutory duties and are upholding carers’ rights.

In addition, the Welsh Government should also use the findings to inform its upcoming review of the Unpaid Carers Strategy, alongside providing additional support and resources to local authorities to identify and reach out to unpaid carers and improve awareness about carers’ rights.

The role of carers must be recognised – and celebrated – and upholding their rights should be something that all public bodies are committed to, helping to ensure carers can access the help and support available, something that often makes a big difference.