There are 2 types of assessments that we are legally entitled to under the Care Act 2014, these are:
A Carers Assessment: This looks at your needs as a carer. It focuses on you — your wellbeing, your ability to care, what support you need, and what would make your life easier. It can lead to things like breaks, equipment, training, practical help, or financial support.
A Needs Assessment: This looks at the needs of the adult who requires care. It focuses on them — what support they need with daily living, mobility, safety, independence, and personal care. It can lead to care packages, home care, day services, equipment, or adaptations.
Under the Care Act 2014, you have the legal right to request these assessments at any time, regardless of:
- your income
- the amount of care you provide
- whether the cared‑for person gets services
- whether you live with them
Here’s how to get them done.
i) Contact your local County Council Adult Social Care Team - you can use the NHS Local Authority Lookup Tool by clicking here
ii) Contact your GP and Request a referral to the Adult Social Care Team
If you care for a child, there are 3 types of Assessment you can request, these are:
A Parent Carer Needs Assessment (PCNA)
Child In Need Assessment
Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA)
Which you can request following the same avenues above, or by speaking to your child's school SENCO officer or your local SENDIASS Service.
Specialist guidance to help you understand what financial support you may be entitled to as a carer. This includes checking eligibility for Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit, disability benefits, and other income‑related support to ensure you’re not missing out. There are several places where you can get expert, up‑to‑date benefits advice from trained welfare specialists who understand the complexities of the benefits system and how it affects unpaid carers.
Citizens Advice - Call them on 0800 144 8848 or visit your nearest CAB by using the lookup tool.
Carers UK - Call them on 0808 808 7777 Email: advice@carersuk.org or you can use their online tool "AskAva" by clicking here
Turn2Us - Read information from Turn2Us about carers here.
Age UK - Call free on 0800 678 1602 Visit the AgeUK Benefits calculator or go to the AgeUK Information and Advice page here
SENDIASS - Find your local SENDIASS Service by clicking here or by speaking to your childs SENCO officer at School.
Condition Specific Charities
To find English and Welsh Charities click here. Here you can search by Charity Name, Condition, Location and other Keywords.
to find Scottish Charities click here. Here you can search by Charity Name, Condition, Location and other Keywords.
Local Carers Centres:
You can use the Carers trust lookup tool here.
Information about the main benefit for unpaid carers who provide 35 hours or more of care each week. This section explains eligibility, how to apply, how earnings affect your claim, and what happens if you receive other benefits.
To find out more visit our Carers Allowance Page by clicking here.
Direct Payments give you more control over the support you receive by allowing you to choose and arrange services yourself. This can include hiring a personal assistant, buying equipment, or arranging flexible support that suits your caring situation. Direct Payments are money given to you by the council so you can arrange your own support instead of using council‑arranged services.
To get Direct Payments, the council must first agree that you (as a carer) or the person you care for has eligible needs.
The first step to receiving Direct Payments is to undergo the assessments in A is for Assessment. During these assessments, say to your assessor “I would like to receive Direct Payments so I can arrange my own support.” You do not have to justify this, the assessor will check:
- what support is needed
- whether Direct Payments are suitable
- whether you can manage them (with or without help)
The Council will then create a support plan, when you have agreed to the support plan you will be given a Direct Payment Agreement, This is a simple document explaining:
i) how the money will be paid
ii) what it can be used for
iii) what records you need to keep
iv) your responsibilities
Guidance to help you prepare for unexpected situations, such as illness or crisis. Emergency planning includes creating a back‑up plan, identifying trusted contacts, and registering with local schemes that ensure the person you care for is supported if you suddenly cannot provide care.
Emergencies can happen without warning — illness, accidents, sudden hospital admission, or anything that stops you from providing care. Having an emergency plan in place ensures the person you care for stays safe and supported, and that services know exactly what to do.
What is an Emergency Plan:
A carer emergency plan (also called a carer contingency plan) is a written plan that sets out what should happen if you, the unpaid carer, suddenly cannot provide care — for example due to illness, an accident, or another emergency.
It ensures the person you care for is safe, supported, and not left without help.
NHS England describes contingency planning as essential so that carers and professionals know “when and how to call plans into action” and what support is available if a crisis occurs
Creating an Emergency Plan
Create an Emergency Plan using our interactive Emergency Planning Tool (coming soon). Our tool will ask you several questions, as you answer each question, we will build an Emergency Plan which can be downloaded for printing or Emailing to your doctors surgery.
Help for carers facing rising living costs, including access to food banks, community pantries, fuel vouchers, warm spaces, and cost‑of‑living schemes. This support is designed to ease financial pressure and ensure carers and their families can stay warm and fed.
Information about one‑off grants available to carers, including support for essential household items, emergency costs, breaks, training, and wellbeing. Many charities and local organisations offer grants that don’t need to be repaid.
Support with making the home safer and easier to manage, such as grab rails, ramps, stairlifts, bathroom adaptations, and equipment. This includes information on Disabled Facilities Grants and occupational therapy assessments.
Clear, reliable guidance on all aspects of caring — from understanding services to knowing your rights, managing daily tasks, and finding support. This section helps carers make informed decisions and feel more confident in their role.
Help for carers balancing employment with caring responsibilities. This includes information on flexible working, carer’s leave, workplace rights, and support to stay in or return to work while managing your caring role.
A quick‑access list of essential numbers and services for both urgent and routine situations. This includes crisis teams, NHS services, social care, helplines, and local support organisations that carers may need at short notice.
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) lets a trusted person make decisions on someone’s behalf if they lose capacity. It can cover property and financial affairs, health and welfare, or both. Having an LPA in place can prevent delays, disputes, and stress for carers when important decisions need to be made.
Mobilise is an online community and support service for carers, offering virtual cuppas, coaching, practical tips, and peer support. It provides a welcoming space to connect with other carers and access advice from people who understand the challenges of caring.
Local community help available close to home, including neighbour networks, mutual aid groups, community hubs, and informal support. Neighbourhood support can offer practical help, companionship, and a sense of connection within your local area.
Digital spaces where carers can connect, share experiences, ask questions, and find support at any time. Online communities offer peer‑to‑peer advice, emotional support, and a sense of belonging, especially for carers who feel isolated.
A Power of Attorney or Lasting Power of Attorney gives a chosen person the legal right to step in and manage your health decisions or your money if you’re unable to.
There are two types:
Health & Welfare LPA – decisions about care, treatment, daily routine, where you live.
Property & Finance LPA – decisions about money, bills, bank accounts, benefits, and property.
An LPA does not remove your control. You continue making your own decisions for as long as you’re able. The LPA simply ensures that if something changes — illness, accident, dementia, or a sudden loss of capacity — the person you trust already has the legal authority to act on your behalf.
Creating an LPA early avoids delays, stress, and costly court processes later on. It’s a practical safeguard for you and peace of mind for the people who support you.
An LPA costs £84 per LPA, if you need to apply for both you can, but it will of course cost double. £168.
To set up an LPA, you only need a few things — but each one is important. Here’s the full list in plain English:
1. The person making the LPA (the ‘donor’)
They must:
Be 18 or over
Have mental capacity when creating the LPA
(meaning they understand what the LPA is and what it allows)
2. The person/people you want to appoint (your ‘attorneys’)
These are the people who will make decisions for you if you can’t.
They must:
Be 18 or over
Be people you trust completely
Be willing to take on the role
Not be bankrupt
(for the Property & Finance LPA)
You can choose:
One attorney
More than one attorney
Replacement attorneys (back‑ups)
3. A ‘certificate provider’
This is someone who confirms:
You understand the LPA
You’re not being pressured
You’re making it voluntarily
They can be:
A professional (doctor, solicitor, social worker), or
Someone who has known you well for at least 2 years
4. The correct LPA forms
Forms can be done:
Online
On paper
With or without a solicitor
5. Identification and signatures
Everyone involved must sign:
You (the donor)
Your attorneys
Your certificate provider
Signatures must be done in the correct order.
6. The registration fee
To register an LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), the fee is:
£82 per LPA (so £164 if you register both types)
People on low income or certain benefits may get a reduction or exemption.
7. The final step: registration
An LPA is not valid until it’s registered with the OPG.
Registration can take up to 20 weeks, so it’s best to do it early.
Short, practical breaks from caring that give you time to rest, recharge, or get things done. Quick breaks can include sitting services, day activities for the person you care for, volunteer support, community groups, or short stays with trusted providers. These services help you take essential time out while knowing your loved one is safe and supported.
We have provided links to each organisation, to find out more about any of the organisations listed below, click the name to be taken to their website.
In England:
Carefree Breaks - A national scheme offering free short hotel breaks for unpaid carers through partnerships with the UK hospitality industry. Carers receive an annual short break, usually 1–2 nights, with only a small admin fee.
Carers Trust - Carers Trust partners across England provide short breaks, sitting services, and grants to help carers take time out. They also signpost to specialist holiday providers and funding options.
Revitalise Respite Holidays - Nurse‑led respite centres offering proper holidays with 24‑hour care for disabled people and their carers. Stays range from a few days to a week and are designed as a “holiday‑style” break.
Shared Lives Short Breaks - Carers can arrange overnight or weekend breaks where the cared‑for person stays with an approved Shared Lives carer in their home. To find your local Shared Lives Short Breaks service click here.
Sitting Services - Local schemes provide a trained support worker or volunteer to stay with the cared‑for person for a few hours so the carer can rest, shop, or attend appointments:
Age UK
Carers Trust
N-compass
The Respite Association
Time for you project - The Time 4 You (or "Time for Me") grant is a financial well-being award for unpaid carers. Ranging from £100 to £350, it is designed to fund activities, breaks, hobbies, or equipment that allow you to step away from your caring responsibilities and focus on your personal well-being. These grants are typically offered through local carer charities and trusts rather than the central government.
To apply for the grant, you must be referred by your local carers service. To find your local service click here to use the Carers Trust Lookup Tool.
In Wales:
NEWCIS - Provides short breaks for unpaid adult and young carers in Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham and South East Wales.
Includes overnight breaks, days out, wellbeing activities, and microgrants.
Swansea Carers Centre – Amser Project - Offers a wide range of short breaks including one‑night stays, day trips, holistic therapies, sits for carers, and group events.
Interlink RCT – Behaviour Support Hub / Parental Retreat - Delivers themed short breaks such as spa breaks, glamping pods, cinema sessions, craft workshops, woodwork, and overnight stays.
Race Equality First – MEC “Time for You” - Provides short breaks specifically for minoritised ethnic communities in South Wales, including day trips, guided walks, vouchers, and microgrants.
Credu (Mid & North Wales) - Runs a wide range of short breaks for carers and families, helping them “step away from daily pressures” through activities, days out, and wellbeing sessions.
Carers Trust North Wales Crossroads Care Service - A delivery partner offering structured short breaks, respite activities, and support for carers across North Wales.
Rewild Play - Provides nature‑based short breaks such as forest activities, outdoor wellbeing sessions, and group retreats for carers.
Ray of Light Cancer Support - Delivers short breaks and wellbeing activities for carers supporting someone with cancer.
In Scotland:
Revitalise — Provide nurse‑led respite holidays
Calvert Trust (Kielder) — Provide accessible activity breaks
CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland) — Provide respite breaks for families of seriously ill children
Sense Scotland — Provide short breaks for people with complex disabilities
Cornerstone — Provide respite and supported short stay breaks
Enable Scotland — Provide short breaks for people with learning disabilities
Quarriers — Provide respite and family support services
Services in Scotland are co-ordinated Nationally by Shared Care Scotland and The Family Fund.
Information about the legal rights of unpaid carers, including your rights under the Care Act, your right to a Carer’s Assessment, your employment rights, your right to be involved in hospital discharge planning, and your right to challenge decisions or request advocacy.
Support to help carers speak up, ask the right questions, and make sure their voice is heard. Self‑advocacy includes knowing what to say in meetings, how to challenge decisions, how to communicate with professionals, and how to stand up for your needs and the needs of the person you care for.
Help with getting to medical appointments, community activities, and essential journeys. Transport support includes community transport schemes, hospital transport, mobility services, taxi vouchers, volunteer drivers, and accessible travel options for carers and the people they care for.
Information to help carers recognise their role, understand what being an unpaid carer means, and know what support they are entitled to. This includes identifying yourself as a carer, understanding boundaries, knowing your responsibilities, and learning how your role fits into the wider health and social care system.
Support for carers who may be at greater risk due to isolation, health issues, financial hardship, disability, or lack of support. This includes young carers, parent carers, carers with their own health needs, and carers who are struggling without help. Vulnerable carers often need additional support, protection, and recognition to stay safe and well.
Support to help carers look after their physical and mental health, including counselling, mindfulness, social activities, exercise groups, and emotional support. Wellbeing services help carers stay resilient and maintain balance in their caring role.
A simple guide to what carers can expect at different stages of the caring journey — from first becoming a carer, to navigating services, to managing daily routines, to planning ahead. This section helps carers understand the road ahead, avoid surprises, and feel more prepared and confident in their role.
Specialist support for children and young people who care for a family member. Young carer services offer respite activities, emotional support, advocacy, and help at school to ensure young carers are recognised and supported.
Mobirise Kit is a service that provides the access to all current and new themes/extensions developed by Mobirise. New themes/extensions are released every month and will be available in your account during your plan period, without any additional charge.