Read Standard 3: Unpaid carers and care partners

Rationale

The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 defines a ‘carer’ as an adult or child who provides or intends to provide care for another individual. It does not apply to people who provide care under a contract or who are volunteers. Under the Act, unpaid carers have a right to be involved in decisions relating to a person’s health, care and future.²⁶

Unpaid carers may need support to look after their own health and wellbeing. This includes access to health assessments and information about practical support and peer support. It also includes information on how to access financial and social support for the person they are providing care for. Support for carers should be holistic, tailored and preventative.²⁶ Unpaid carers have a right to an Adult Carer Support Plan or Young Carer Statement. When general visiting restrictions are required for infection control purposes, people should still be able to receive visits from a nominated person.

Unpaid carers or care partners may be involved when a person does not have capacity. All healthcare staff should consider a person's capacity to consent to any health or care interventions. The Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 is used to protect the welfare of adults who are unable to make decisions for themselves.⁴⁷ It includes provisions for power of attorney. Power of attorney allows individuals to designate someone to make decisions on their behalf. Staff should understand the relevant legislation at a level appropriate to their practice. This includes understanding when and how they should involve people with power of attorney in decisions.

Criteria

3.1

Unpaid carers and care partners are:

valued and respected
included in decision making where appropriate
supported to provide care for as long as they choose.

3.2

Unpaid carers are offered an Adult Carer Support Plan or Young Carer Statement.

3.3

Unpaid carers and care partners of people with progressive health conditions are supported to understand what to expect in the future.

3.4

Organisations support unpaid carers and care partners to access, as required:

practical support and training, where appropriate
psychological and emotional support
short breaks from caring
financial support.

3.5

Unpaid carers and care partners are fully informed about:

care options, including how to access self-directed support
any social security or other financial assistance they or the person they care for may be entitled to
what it means to be granted power of attorney and how they can fulfil this role
independent advocacy and how to access it.

3.6

Unpaid carers and care partners know how to raise concerns about a person’s care or support and can access an independent complaints process if required.

3.7

Staff receive training appropriate to roles and responsibilities about adult support and protection, including:

patterns of abuse and coercive control
identification of an adult at risk of harm
local safeguarding protocols and processes.

3.8

Unpaid carers and care partners are provided with the right information and support to assist people with frailty to keep active, reduce falls and prevent deconditioning where appropriate.

3.9

Unpaid carers and care partners are supported to understand people’s changing nutritional and hydration needs and choices, particularly when the person they care for is very frail or dying.

3.10

Unpaid carers and care partners of people with dementia are provided with specialist support and information.

3.11

Unpaid carers and care partners are fully involved in discussions about care arrangements, treatment, interventions or future care planning where appropriate.

3.12

Organisations enable specified unpaid carers or care partners to visit even when general visiting restrictions are required.

What does this standard mean for...

What does the standard mean for unpaid carers or care partners?

Your role will be recognised and supported.
You will be listened to and treated with respect as part of the care team.
Your own needs will be documented and met as much as possible.
A nominated person will always be able to visit the person you are looking after.
You will receive information about care options, and what might happen in the future.
If you have power of attorney, you will be able to discuss what this means with trained staff.

What does the standard mean for staff?

Staff, in line with roles, responsibilities and workplace setting:

understand the role of unpaid carers and care partners
support unpaid carers and care partners as required
involve people with power of attorney appropriately in decisions
know what to do if they consider that someone with power of attorney is not acting in the best interests of the person
involve unpaid carers and care partners in care coordination and future care planning where appropriate.

What does the standard mean for the organisation?

Organisations:

have systems and processes in place to identify unpaid carers and care partners
provide unpaid carers and care partners with the support they need, including access to an Adult Carer Support Plan or a Young Carer Statement
ensure policies and processes are in place to support the wellbeing of unpaid carers and care partners.

Examples of what meeting this standard might look like

Evidence of good documentation of any unpaid carers and care partners within the clinical notes of an older person with frailty.
Carers’ policy or strategy embedded into working practices.
Informal update of training and resources for care partners.
Evidence of carers’ assessments.
Evidence of staff training and uptake of training on power of attorney.