Carer support wanted

Perth charity PKAVS is seeking opinions on how health bosses can ensure struggling unpaid carers get the support they need ahead of new legislation coming into force next year.

The Carer (Scotland) Act 2016 will place a duty on Perth and Kinross Council to provide support for unpaid carers such as respite breaks - but local health chiefs still have work to do to prepare for the Act being introduced in five months time.

A paper presented to Perth and Kinross Integration Joint Board last week spelled out what still needed to be done ahead of April.

This included consulting on and agreeing a draft Carers Eligibility Criteria, which is what PKAVS has been commissioned to consult on.

The paper explained: “The Carers Eligibility Criteria will detail the level of needs a carer must have before they will be eligible for service provision such as respite from the council or [Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership]. We don’t have eligibility for carers at present.

“The eligibility criteria will mean that once someone reaches the eligibility threshold, the council or health and social care partnership have a duty to provide services.

“The development of eligibility criteria is the most time consuming element as

This gives us a vital opportunity to have a say