Adult Carer Support Plan

The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 came into effect on 01 April 2018, extending and enhancing the rights of carers in Scotland to help improve their health and wellbeing so that they can continue to care, if they so wish, and have a life alongside caring.

Adult Carers have the right to an Adult Carer Support Plan

Each local authority must offer an Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP) to anyone they identify as an adult carer. They must prepare an Adult Carer Support Plan for anyone who accepts this offer or who specifically requests one. They must also provide support to any carer who has identified needs (which meet their local eligibility criteria) that cannot be met through support provided to the person they cared for, or through general local services available to them.

Click here to find out about your rights as a carer (Carers’ Charter)

What is an Adult Carer Support Plan?

An Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP) helps you to think about the support you might need as a carer, both now and in the future. It can help you, as well as others you engage with, identify and better understand your support needs. It will help determine who can best provide the support you need, whenever you need it, so you do not reach crisis point.

It starts with a conversation where you discuss your caring role; how this impacts you and what’s important to you. The conversation will be structured in a way that looks at various aspects of your life and caring circumstances, such as:

• The type(s) of care you provide
• Who else is supporting you with the caring role, such as family and friends, other organisations and professionals
• Your ability to manage or cope with the caring role
• How caring impacts your physical and emotional health and wellbeing
• Your ability to have a life alongside or outwith caring
• How caring impacts your relationships
• Your ability to work, access education or training
• The financial impact of caring
• Your living environment
• How involved and valued do you feel as a carer; are your views and opinions taken on board, do you feel listened to
• Emergency, Future and Anticipatory Care Planning
• The legal aspects of caring
• Your ability to have a short break from caring
• If you are willing and able to provide care

This conversation will be focused on you, helping you to identify your support needs; what outcomes you want to achieve; what you can do to achieve those outcomes yourself, and what others can do to support you. It will take into account the circumstances in which your adult carer support plan should be reviewed, such as a change in the health of the person you care for or your own health. A review date will be agreed upon with you to check progress and ensure the agreed outcomes are being achieved.

This conversation will be documented in your Adult Carer Support Plan, in a way that you and others can understand. You can be given a copy of your plan and you can share it with anyone you wish.

Do I need an Adult Carer Support Plan to get help and support?

This will depend on the type of support you require. Every carer can access information, advice, and support in relation to their caring role through Lanarkshire Carers. If your support needs cannot be met through our services, an Adult Carer Support Plan can highlight that you may meet the Local Eligibility Criteria for support through the local authority. This is usually the case if your support needs are critical or substantial. Your local authority will guide you through their Self-Directed Support assessment process.

You can find out about Local Eligibility Criteria below:

North Lanarkshire

South Lanarkshire

How do I request an Adult Carer Support Plan?

You can request one from either Lanarkshire Carers or your local Social Work office.

We recommend contacting us so we can help you determine your support needs and where you can go for support. We have Carer Support Workers based throughout Lanarkshire, providing individual support to help you manage and continue in your caring role.

Please feel free to get in touch with us by calling or visiting one of our centres:

Alternatively, you can use our online contact form to get in touch and we will get back to you as soon as possible.