Unpaid carers will be identified earlier and connected to support sooner under a new action plan from the government.
This cross-government plan will improve recognition of unpaid carers, referring them to services and helping them access health services and employment and education support
The government is building a system that recognises and supports unpaid carers, as a crucial part of its plans for a national care service Millions of unpaid carers in England will be better recognised, referred to support and helped to reach their full potential.
Nearly one in 10 people in England is an unpaid carer – providing an invaluable service in society looking after family members, friends or loved ones.
However, unpaid carers can experience challenges with keeping up careers or education, looking after their own health – including loneliness and isolation – and difficulties in taking breaks away from caring.
The action plan is underpinned by 3 central pillars:
- recognising our carers
- referring them to services
- helping them reach their potential
The main measures of the plan include:
- unpaid carers registering their role on the NHS App so health professionals can clearly see they are a carer and involving them in care planning and referring them to the right support
- the single patient record will mean all health and care providers will have the same information for a person – meaning unpaid carers will no longer need to repeat the same information about the person they care for, while helping them manage appointments and prescriptions
- unpaid carers information page on GOV.UK putting clear guidance from health, social care, employment and benefits in one place for the first time – launching this summer
- a ‘carers’ charter’ to be published, setting out the carer’s rights and entitlements
- the government will require employers with more than 250 workers to improve the support for unpaid carers from spring 2027 so they can continue in their careers while carrying out their caring responsibilities
- carers to be central to hospital discharge planning, under reforms to the Better Care Fund
- young carers will be identified quicker and better supported so they can stay in education without falling behind at school. Schools will be held accountable by data on young carers’ attendances alongside secure information sharing about young carers across services, so they are supported