Carer's rights

Recognising yourself as a carer and understanding your rights can take time. Yet, knowing these rights can be crucial to accessing support, and ensuring your health, well-being, and a balanced work-life.

Adult carers of adults

The Care Act 2014 strengthens the right of adult carers of adults to have an assessment of their needs (called a Carer’s Assessment). For the first time, it places a duty on the local authority to plan support for those carers who meet the eligibility criteria.

Parent carers

The rights of parent carers have also been addressed within the Children and Families Act. A local council must provide an assessment to a carer of a disabled child aged under 18 if it appears that the parent carer has needs, or the parent carer requests an assessment.

Young carers

Young carers are children under 18 with caring responsibilities. Their rights to be assessed come mostly from the Children’s Act 1989 and the Children and Families Act 2014. As part of the whole family approach, if a disabled adult is being cared for, then the local council must consider whether there are any children involved in providing that care and, if so, what the impact is on that child.

Local authorities can arrange for other organisations such as charities or private organisations to carry out the assessments.

More about Carer’s Assessments in Bristol and South Gloucestershire

Being a caregiver is a role that can often create a challenging balancing act between paid work and caring duties.

Sometimes, carers might find themselves in a position where they have to leave their paid jobs, even if they would prefer not to. There are scenarios where stepping away from employment can be the most suitable choice and can bring about a considerable sense of relief.

Yet, many caregivers discover that maintaining their employment can bring a sense of equilibrium to their lives. Apart from offering a respite from their caregiving duties, remaining employed can also provide a steady income, which can be a crucial factor to consider.

Balancing a job and a caregiving role can be challenging but there are strategies you can use to manage both effectively.

If you wish to continue your paid employment while fulfilling your responsibilities as a caregiver, certain steps can make this easier. These can include planning your time carefully, prioritising tasks, and finding support when needed.

Staying organised and setting boundaries between work and caregiving duties can also be beneficial. Remember, it's not only possible to juggle work and caregiving, but with the right approach, you can thrive in both roles.

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