Rights of a Carer

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The rights of a carer As a carer you have specific legal rights and entitlements. Knowing your rights can help you to get the support that you need. These rights for carers include: •the right to have your needs assessed by your local authority, •the right to receive direct payments so that you can chose what services to have, and •rights in the workplace. Your right to an assessment Your right to an assessment of your needs is set out in the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000. This says that all carers aged 16 or above, who provide a ‘regular and substantial amount of care’ for someone aged 18 or over, have the right to an assessment of their needs as a carer. This is provided by the social services department of your local authority as a way to see if they can offer any support to aid you in your caring role.If there is more than one carer providing regular care in your household, you are both entitled to an assessment. The local authority has a responsibility to make sure a young carer’s own wellbeing is looked after and that they receive the necessary support. So, a 16- or 17-year-old who cares for someone, even for a limited period, may be entitled to an assessment.If you are a parent or have responsibility for a disabled child, your needs as a carer are assessed under The Children Act 1989. You have the right to a family needs assessment. You do not need to be the mother or father of the child. The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act, which came into effect in April 2005, helps to ensure that carers are not disadvantaged because they are caring for another person. The law can help you in three ways. Your right to know about assessments The act makes it a legal requirement for all local authorities to ensure that you are made aware of your right to a carer’s assessment. Your right to have your needs

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