Welfare Reform on the Web (August 2002): Social Care - UK - Community Care

CARERS' PROMISE

A Cozens

Community Care, June 13th-19th 2002 p. 32-33

Article calls for increased funding to enable social services departments to improve services to carers. The Carers' and Disabled Childrens' Act 2000 gave local authorities discretionary powers to:

• provide services to carers and charge for them;
• provide direct payments to carers;
• offer vouchers for respite care.

These discretionary powers have been largely ignored by cash strapped local authorities.