The Department for Health and Social Care has today (Tuesday 23rd July 2019) published its one year progress review of the Carers Action Plan, which was initially launched on 5th June 2018 and set out how the Government would improve support for unpaid carers in England over the next two years (until 2020).
Emily Holzhausen OBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers UK, said:
“We’re pleased the one year review of the Carers Action Plan shows steady progress in support for unpaid carers but there are still issues that need to be addressed.
“We’re delighted to have seen the launch of the new employer benchmarking scheme Carer Confident, which accredits employers based on support they provide carers in the workplace, and the first five employers across the private and public sectors were accredited last month. We welcome the additional support to continue to work on Carer Confident. The delivery of Carer Passports is helping to identify and support unpaid carers in hospital settings and the recent launch of the £5 million Carer Innovation Fund will help develop innovative ways to support carers outside of mainstream health and care services.
“We are pleased that the Minister for Care has pledged to put carers at the very heart of the much delayed green paper on social care. The care system urgently requires short and longer term funding and this must be brought forward as a priority. The Government has also pledged on several occasions to consult on carers’ rights in the workplace and we hope the new Prime Minister will take swift action on this, introducing five to ten days of paid care leave, to improve the lives of millions of people juggling work and care.
“For the huge number of carers facing a never-ending struggle to make ends meet, they must urgently receive better financial support.”