George, Mike

There are few services provided for people with brain injuries with the result that too much pressure is placed on their carers. Talks to a social worker about the difficulties she had in obtaining support for her client and his carer.

Discusses the low levels of carers claiming carers allowances and highlights ways of encouraging take up of the allowances.

April 1st is often the date on which all or part of legislation or programmes are implemented. The author provides an overview of changes to look out for on 1 April 2005. Provides details on Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004, Carers' Grant, Children Act 2004, Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, Learning Disabilities Development Fund, Protection of title of social workers, and changes in the sentencing of offenders.

Provides an overview of carers in the UK.

Carers look after family, friends or partners in help because they are ill, frail or have a disability. The care they provide is unpaid. In any year 301,000 adults in the UK become carers. Three out of five carers have had to give up work to care. Almost all of us have been or will be a carer during our lifetime.

A fifth of adults with learning difficulties live with elderly parent. This article looks at how well the social care sector is serving this population of carers.

While the regulations allowing staff parental leave are quite specific, those governing other caring responsibilities are less clear. [Introduction]