Community equipment and housing adaptations: draft guidance

Unpaid Carers

Unpaid carers are at the heart of health and social care policy and should be considered as key partners in care.

We recognise the important role unpaid carers play in supporting people with disabilities to remain at home. Therefore providing these carers and the person they care for with self-management care skills, and effective rehabilitation services is essential.

To help unpaid carers to achieve this we also need to ensure effective hospital discharge policies are in place. Leaving hospital can be a difficult experience, especially if the person leaving hospital is unable to function as they did before. It can also be a difficult time for their carers too.

Under the Carers Act, unpaid carers have the right to be involved in the hospital discharge process of the person they are or are going to be caring for. They also have the right to have their views taken into account in assessing the needs of the person being cared for. (See sections 5 and 6 of the Carers' Charter).

Health boards must take appropriate steps to: inform carers as soon as they can about when the person they care for is to be discharged from hospital; invite their views about the discharge; and take their views into account when planning the discharge (as far as 'reasonable and practical'). This should include the carer's views about the suitability of the home environment for the service users longer term needs, and any equipment and adaptations that might be needed. A good practice guide to involving carers in discharge planning has been developed to provide practical support in involving carers.

Any subsequent support, help, housing advice, equipment or adaptations will play a key part in this process. Having this support in place allows the cared for person and the carer to remain at home for longer, reduces the pressure on the family and importantly helps avoid hospital readmission.

• Assessors must take account of the views and contribution of carers when assessing the person in need.
• Carers must be informed of their right to an adult carer support plan or young carer statement to determine what is important to them and their own support needs, independent of any assessment of the person for whom they care.
• An adult carer support plan or young carer statement must be offered to anyone who provides care for a disabled or older person, or someone with a long-term health condition (sections 2 and 3 of the Carers' charter).
• The plan or statement must cover a number of issues, including identifying the unpaid carer's needs for support. That can include the carer's need for equipment or adaptations to enable them to support the cared-for person successfully. It can also include their need for advice and training on safe operation of equipment.

The carer themselves may require information in an alternative format or language to that of the cared for person.

Key Actions

• Assessors must take account of the views and contribution of carers when assessing the person in need, and fully engage them in discussions about future housing needs, and any associated equipment and adaptations which may support the service user to remain safely in the community.
• Carers must be informed of their right to an adult carer support plan or young carer statement to determine what is important to them and their own support needs, independent of any assessment of the person for whom they care.
• An adult carer support plan or young carer statement must be offered to anyone who provides care for a disabled or older person, or a disabled child.
• Carers should be fully involved in assessment and discharge planning from hospital.