voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteering
voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteering
A Right to Respite - Have Your Say
Created: 15/09/2021As part of a wide-ranging national consultation on plans to reform adult social care in Scotland, the Scottish Government is consulting on a new right to breaks from caring for unpaid carers - one of the key recommendations from the recent independent review of adult social care - the Feeley Report.
According to the government's consultation document, as few as 3% of carers are estimated to currently receive statutory support for breaks from caring, despite the known benefits breaks can have on carer health and wellbeing.
A new legal right to a break would seek to prevent many carers (and cared-for people) from reaching crisis point, but more importantly would help ensure carers could more effectively balance caring with other activities that are important in their lives, such as recreation, leisure interests, community involvement, or simply time to rest.
The government is now seeking views on different options for how a right to breaks could be established.
Shared Care Scotland is arranging two briefing events to give people an opportunity to explore the options presented and share views on what factors will be important in deciding the way forward.
The views gathered will help to inform the National Carer Organisations response to the consultation.
The event will be held on Zoom. Joining details and Zoom instructions will be circulated to those attending the week before the event.
You can register for these events here:
10:30 - 12:30 on Tuesday 21 September - register here
14:30 - 16:30 on Thursday 23rd September - register here
Click here to download Shared Care Scotland's briefing paper on a right to break.