Carers' assessment and information guidance

It is clear that carers reduce the amount of input that social services and other agencies need to make. It is estimated that there are 185,000 carers in Northern Ireland and that 11 per cent of households here contain a carer. The Act places a requirement on Trusts to inform carers of their right to carer’s assessment and gives Trusts the power to supply services directly to carers to help the carer in their caring role. This change includes a statutory right to a carer’s assessment which allows for an assessment to be carried out even where the person cared for has refused an assessment or the provision of personal social services. The Act also allows Trusts to make Direct Payments.