Your rights as a carer

As a carer you have the right to have your views taken into account when the person you care for is being assessed. If you provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis you are also entitled to have a separate assessment of your needs. You can ask for your own assessment at any time, even if the person you care for does not want an assessment or services.  

Your assessment can be completed on your own, with a friend or family member, an advocate, or with someone from Southwark Adult Social Care.

If the person you care for has mental health needs, it may be more appropriate if assessments & services are provided by the Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) through the Care Programme Approach.

Carers (Recognition and Services Act) 1995

This Act gives you the right to a separate assessment of your needs if you are providing, or intend to provide, a substantial amount of care on a regular basis.  

Usually the person you care for will be having, or have had, an assessment of their needs under the 1990 NHS & Community Care Act and ideally this is the best way of helping you both. The services provided to the person you care for will often help to support you by providing some of the care you have been giving.  

Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004

This Act poses a duty on Councils to inform carers of their rights to an assessment of their needs, and ensures that consideration is given to whether the carer wishes to work, undertake leisure or training activities.

Work and Families Act 2006

This gives carers a right to request flexible working if they have had 26 continuous weeks employment on the date they make the request.