As the number of people in need of care and support increases rapidly over the coming years, the pressure on families to provide care will also continue to grow. If families are to be able to take on these caring responsibilities – and juggle them alongside work and family life – then sufficient, affordable and good quality care services will be the lynchpin that helps them hold it all together. Without the right support in place for disabled and older family members, more carers will reach breaking point – with serious consequences for individuals, families, employers and the economy.

When care is unsafe, unreliable or unsuitable, this has a knock-on effect on every area of carers’ lives. Poor quality care means disruptions to work which can lead to leaving employment altogether, a negative impact on carers’ own health and wellbeing, damage to relationships with family, friends and colleagues, financial losses, and constant worry. Good care can also have a huge impact on carers’ lives – helping them to keep working, maintain relationships, have lives of their own outside caring, and give them peace of mind that their loved one is safe and well looked after.