Unpaid carer support
Excessive pressures and lack of support for unpaid carers, including young carers, impacting their health and wellbeing.
88 items
7 sources
1 inquiry
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Committee recommendation
100match
#7 - Require the Casey Commission to establish a workstream to reduce pressures on unpaid carers.
We recommend that the Casey Commission includes a specific workstream dedicated to reducing the pressures on carers, especially young carers. This workstream should consider how to support unpaid carers better, to ensure they get the respite they need and to look after their own health and wellbeing. It should also consider how businesses could be better incentivised to...
Matched on
terms: carer, support, unpaid
Committee recommendation
99match
#9 - Seventh Report - Supporting people with dementia and their carers
Unpaid carers play a vital role in supporting people with dementia. We would like to acknowledge their tremendous contribution, especially over the pandemic period and we welcome the eventual inclusion of provisions in the Health and Care Bill relating to carers. The Government must consider unpaid carers in their White Paper for social care reform. To ensure reforms...
Matched on
terms: carer, support, unpaid
Committee recommendation
99match
#6 - Unpaid carers face significant personal and financial costs due to social care reform failures.
Unpaid carers are bearing the highest cost from successive governments’ failures to reform adult social care. They provide care worth £184 billion, “equivalent to a second NHS”, but this is often unrecognised and comes at great personal, emotional and financial cost as well as a cost to their own health. Carers can’t do the vital work they do...
Matched on
terms: carer, support, unpaid
Committee recommendation
87match
#28 - Positive innovations and good practice, including Mockingbird model, support foster carers.
There are many positive examples of innovation and good practice in local authorities to support foster carers. In particular, we heard clear support for the Mockingbird model and were interested to hear of the Room Makers scheme to enable carers to renovate and expand their homes. We 86 welcome the additional funding for foster care placements announced in...
Matched on
terms: carer, support
Committee recommendation
85match
#15 - First Report - The Government’s White Paper proposals for the reform of Health and Social Care
Unpaid carers are partners in care and it is deeply concerning that the White Paper does not mention unpaid family carers at all. We welcome the commitment by the Secretary of State to consider what support and representation can be given to unpaid carers, and recommend that the NHS should have a responsibility to have regard to carers...
Matched on
terms: carer, support, unpaid
Committee recommendation
84match
#27 - Commission research to quantify the full costs of inaction on adult social care reform.
We recommend that the Government commissions research with the aim of fully quantifying the cost of doing nothing on adult social care reform. That research should seek to quantify costs to individuals, including unpaid carers and care workers, to local authorities, to care providers, to the NHS and to the economy. Cost is not just about money, it...
Matched on
terms: carer, support, unpaid
Committee recommendation
83match
#34 - Ensure kinship allowance pilot provides financial support equivalent to foster carers.
In its upcoming pilot of a kinship allowance, the Department for Education should ensure that the financial support is on a par with that given to foster carers. It must evaluate the pilot at the earliest opportunity and roll it out across the country once it has proven to be effective. (Recommendation, Paragraph 83)
Matched on
terms: carer, support
Committee recommendation
83match
#33 - Kinship care is essential, but carers require adequate financial and employment support.
Kinship care is an essential part of the care system and the evidence is clear that children in kinship care have an overall better experience than children in other types of care. We welcome the Department for Education’s focus on kinship care, but this must be underpinned by the right policies to support kinship carers. In particular, kinship...
Matched on
terms: carer, support
Committee recommendation
83match
#27 - Severe shortage of foster carers exacerbated by inadequate support and undervalued work.
The shortage of foster carers is a key cause in the crisis in the supply of placements for children in care, with an additional 6,500 fostering families needed. Yet too many prospective foster carers do not complete the application and approval process, and those who do find themselves left with inadequate support and undervalued for the important work...
Matched on
terms: carer, support
Committee recommendation
77match
#29 - Second Report - Long-term funding of adult social care
Our broken care system is held up by unpaid carers doing vital work out of love and pride. The cost to them can be financial, physical, and emotional. The cost to our economy of carers leaving the workforce is over £3 billion each year—money that could be invested in adult social care. We recognise that some of the...
Matched on
terms: carer, support, unpaid
Committee recommendation
74match
#30 - Fund Mockingbird constellations and align housing policy to boost foster carer recruitment.
The Department for Education should fund the planned recruitment hubs to set up Mockingbird constellations in every local authority. The Department should work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure that housing policy is designed to support the recruitment of foster carers. This should include: investing in and scaling up innovative housing programmes such...
Matched on
terms: carer, support
Committee recommendation
74match
#29 - Establish a national fostering strategy, consult on national register, and review financial support.
The Department for Education must put in place a national fostering strategy to complement the existing strategies for adoption and kinship care. As part of this, it should consult on introducing a national register of foster carers and review the financial support available to ensure that it is adequate to meet their needs. (Recommendation, Paragraph 73)
Matched on
terms: carer, support
Committee recommendation
73match
#1 - Seventh Report - Supporting people with dementia and their carers
We conclude, in line with our report on Social care: funding and workforce, the current social care system is “unfair and confusing”. Those living with dementia remain unprotected from unlimited costs and navigating the system is burdensome for those providing support. This is unacceptable and it is therefore essential the Government’s White Paper addresses these issues with full...
Matched on
terms: carer, support
Committee recommendation
73match
#30 - Second Report - Long-term funding of adult social care
The Government claims “the money is there” to support carers’ breaks, but the evidence we received is that not enough carers are getting a break. There are many carers who have not had a break since the start of the pandemic. Providing intimate care, under pressure, for such a prolonged period, is bound to have an impact on...
Matched on
terms: carer, support
PFD report
69match
Wendy Brown
Significant delays in implementing care packages and providing respite support for vulnerable carers, compounded by inadequate signposting of adult care services, complicated funding routes, and lengthy application processing times, put carers under severe strain.
Matched on
terms: carer, support
Committee recommendation
69match
#5 - Consider measures to address the erosion of the social care upper threshold.
Given how often this was raised as an issue, we recommend that the Casey Commission considers measures to address the erosion of the upper threshold. In the meantime, we recommend the Government does the same. (Recommendation, Paragraph 29) 53 Unpaid carers: the hidden cost of inaction
Matched on
terms: carer, unpaid
Committee recommendation
68match
#31 - Second Report - Long-term funding of adult social care
We recognise that it is not always easy to engage with people who do not identify as “carers”, but more must be done to ensure that carers receive the support to which they are entitled, and that the support they receive is useful to them. All carers are legally entitled to a carers assessment, but under the current...
Matched on
terms: carer, support
Committee recommendation
66match
#14 - Mandate DWP to involve disabled children, young carers, and care leavers in Timms Review.
Following the changes agreed to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill on 1 July 2025, we recommend that the Department for Work and Pensions ensures the involvement of organisations working with disabled children, young carers and care leavers in the co- production of the Timms Review. (Recommendation, Paragraph 30)
Matched on
terms: carer
PFD report
65match
Peter Garvin
Poor communication between the CMHT and GP, a lack of local mental health beds, and a policy to discharge NHS patients seeking private care negatively impacted patient care. A carer's assessment was also not offered.
Matched on
terms: carer
Committee recommendation
64match
#17 - Ensure active parental involvement in all SEND processes with independent advocacy and resources
Parents and carers must be actively and meaningfully involved in all processes that affect their child’s education, support, and overall wellbeing. This includes being fully informed and invited to participate in all relevant meetings where decisions about their child’s needs or provision are being discussed at the school and local authority level. Families should have access to independent...
Matched on
terms: carer, support
Committee recommendation
62match
#16 - Review and support modular apprenticeships for candidates with caring responsibilities in transport manufacturing.
Skills England must undertake a review to ensure that it supports a range of modular or part-time apprenticeships, or other training options in the transport manufacturing sector, to help attract candidates with caring responsibilities or those returning to work from career breaks. Manufacturers receiving levy funding or apprenticeship support should be required to report annually to Skills England...
Matched on
terms: support
PFD report
61match
Daphne McCorkle
A critical gap exists in night-time care provision for patients requiring frequent turning to prevent pressure sores, as neither district nurses nor agency carers provide night visits.
Matched on
terms: carer
PFD report
61match
Brenda Gowan
Inadequate discharge planning for a stroke patient included insufficient social care, disregarded family concerns, unassessed falls risk, lack of community support, and unprovided essential safety equipment.
Matched on
terms: support
PFD report
61match
Max Turbutt
A vulnerable person struggled to contact their social worker for weeks due to unavailable contact channels, including an unattended crisis line. This highlights inadequate support arrangements for those in need.
Matched on
terms: support
Committee recommendation
60match
#27 - Second Report - Long-term funding of adult social care
We heard repeatedly that an absolutely critical lever for stabilising the adult social care market was tackling staff shortages and low retention. This would widen access to care and help to give unpaid carers a much-needed break. There is also the very real risk that the Government’s charging reforms do not immediately improve matters, for instance by drawing...
Matched on
terms: carer, unpaid
PFD report
57match
Barbara Mayer
Carer fatigue was not followed up, inconsistent crisis team contacts prevented establishing trust, and urgent help was delayed due to increased demand. Treatment options were also not adequately discussed with the patient.
Matched on
terms: carer
Committee recommendation
57match
#55 - Disabled children are overlooked in social care, lacking access to essential short breaks.
Too often, disabled children are overlooked in the social care system. Parents struggle to understand and access the support available and face a confusing “postcode lottery” of support between local authorities. There is an urgent need to improve access to short breaks, respite care and holiday provision; it is unacceptable that over half of parents are unable to...
Matched on
terms: support
Committee recommendation
56match
#2 - Fourth Report - Universal Credit and childcare costs
Good quality childcare can have a transformative impact on the lives of children and their families, and a lack of childcare, or support with paying for it, should never be a barrier to work. Childcare is expensive for all, but the pressures are most acute for low-income families and we recommend the Government increase the financial support it...
Matched on
terms: support
PFD report
53match
David Jackson
Lack of intervention for an immobile patient who deteriorated over two weeks at home due to refusal of medical assistance, exposing risks in community health care for vulnerable individuals.
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
53match
#35 - Legislate for statutory kinship leave, ensuring equal entitlements to adoptive parents.
It was a missed opportunity not to include statutory kinship leave in the recent Employment Rights Bill. The Government should ensure that entitlements to kinship leave are included in its forthcoming review of the parental leave system and legislate for this at the earliest opportunity. As part of the review, the Government should critically evaluate whether kinship carers...
Matched on
terms: carer
Committee recommendation
53match
#1 - Set out clear timeline for concluding review of research on carers' experiences
The Department should set out when it intends to conclude its review of research on the experience of carers.
Matched on
terms: carer
Committee recommendation
51match
#1 - Second Report - Long-term funding of adult social care
The covid-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on adult social care. People have received less care and often care workers have been compelled to deliver only the basics. More people are going without care and many people’s needs are increasing significantly. Social care workers and unpaid carers are burnt out. Covid-19 has exacerbated the need for more...
Matched on
terms: carer, unpaid
LGO / SPSO decision
51match
24-004-031 - Shropshire Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a lack of support for carers in the Council’s area. This is because many of the issues raised happened too long ago and I seen no good reason why they could not have been raised sooner. We could not add to the Council’s investigation into other matters.
Matched on
terms: carer, support
PFD report
49match
Sylvia Price
The lack of enforceable requirements for clear signage identifying accessible toilet facilities in public buildings, despite its absence contributing to a death, poses a risk for future accidents.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
48match
IBI-10a(iii) - Additional Charity Support
That favourable consideration be given to other charities and organisations supporting people infected and affected that were granted core participant status (as listed on the Inquiry website) to continue to provide support for at least the next 18 months. Further support should be reviewed at that stage with a view to it continuing as appropriate.
Matched on
terms: support
LGO / SPSO decision
47match
25-010-310 - Leicester City Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about a carer’s assessment and the support provided by the Council because we could not add to the previous independent investigation, and we could not achieve the outcome Mrs X wants.
Matched on
terms: carer, support
PFD report
45match
Netlyn Robinson
Upon the deceased's return home, there was no falls pendant or alarm, the telephone line was not connected, there was no risk assessment, and the heating was not working; the social worker had not been shown a checklist for issues to check prior to a vulnerable person returning home and there were no processes in place to outline...
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
44match
#13 - Fourth Report - Universal Credit and childcare costs
We recommend that the Department for Work and Pensions consult providers on a way that costs can be split evenly for people claiming Universal Credit childcare support.
Matched on
terms: support
Committee recommendation
44match
#11 - Fourth Report - Universal Credit and childcare costs
The range of childcare support schemes available to parents is complex, and they need access to good quality, timely information to make the best decisions about 48 Universal Credit and childcare costs their finances. We recommend the Department for Work and Pensions develop a single portal for childcare on the current Childcare Choices model: crucially, this must include...
Matched on
terms: support
Committee recommendation
44match
#10 - Fourth Report - Universal Credit and childcare costs
Work Coaches already receive training on childcare support for UC claimants, but given the range of schemes available, the way that payments and suitable options can change with a claimants’ circumstances, and the need for timely information, there is a case for introducing specialist Work Coaches in this area. We recommend the Department develop “childcare specialist” Work Coaches,...
Matched on
terms: support
Committee recommendation
44match
#9 - Fourth Report - Universal Credit and childcare costs
The Government offers support on childcare options: notably, the Childcare Choices website and via Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches. DWP told us that Work Coaches receive training in advising UC claimants on their childcare options, but our evidence suggests further work is needed. We also heard that currently, UC claimants referring to the Childcare Choices webpage are often directed...
Matched on
terms: support
Committee recommendation
44match
#8 - Fourth Report - Universal Credit and childcare costs
There are a wide range of childcare support schemes available to people claiming Universal Credit, all with different eligibility criteria and application systems. We heard in this inquiry that it continues to be very difficult for parents to understand what the best childcare option for them is, and how this might change with their circumstances.
Matched on
terms: support
Committee recommendation
44match
#7 - Fourth Report - Universal Credit and childcare costs
The UC childcare offer is, in some ways, more generous than the system it replaces, as it offers a higher percentage reimbursement. However, support for childcare for some of the poorest families in the country has failed to keep pace with inflation because the maximum cap of childcare that can be claimed for has stayed at the same...
Matched on
terms: support
Committee recommendation
44match
#6 - Fourth Report - Universal Credit and childcare costs
DWP maintains that it does not collect or publish regular statistical updates on uses of the Flexible Support Fund, on the basis that it does not want to detract from its discretionary nature. The FSF is a core element of support for working parents, and without this data, the Department cannot verify whether it is being used as...
Matched on
terms: support
Committee recommendation
44match
#5 - Fourth Report - Universal Credit and childcare costs
We recommend the Government amend the regulations on the use of the Flexible Support Fund so that receipts for payments made from the Fund can be submitted as if the parent had paid the childcare costs themselves. This would have the effect of removing, or largely offsetting the upfront cost, rather than simply pushing it in to Universal...
Matched on
terms: support
Committee recommendation
44match
#4 - Fourth Report - Universal Credit and childcare costs
DWP, entirely reasonably, wants to reduce the amount that it loses to fraud via childcare payments in UC. However, we have heard that in doing so, by making payments in arrears, it has created an insurmountable barrier to work for some households. DWP’s recent efforts to encourage Work Coaches to make greater use of the Flexible Support Fund...
Matched on
terms: support
Committee recommendation
44match
#3 - Fourth Report - Universal Credit and childcare costs
Households claiming Universal Credit are, by definition, amongst the poorest households in the country, yet the childcare support to them via that system requires them to find substantial sums to meet up-front costs: both initially and on an ongoing basis. Other schemes, such as Tax Free Childcare, allow reimbursement in advance despite being aimed at much wealthier households....
Matched on
terms: support
LGO / SPSO decision
44match
23-018-142 - Sunderland City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint the Council gave incorrect advice about Carers
Matched on
terms: carer
LGO / SPSO decision
44match
24-000-311 - St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: Mrs X complains the Council is not giving her adult son, Mr Y, sufficient support to meet his needs. She says direct payments from the Council do not cover the cost of respite care and the Council will not allow her flexibility in how she spends the payments. She says she is struggling to care for Mr...
Matched on
terms: support
LGO / SPSO decision
43match
201809134 - North Lanarkshire Council
Ms C complained that the Council had unreasonably failed to assess her needs as a carer. She said that she had suffered considerable stress for over a year as a result of her caring role for her son (Mr A) who has a number of disabilities. We took independent advice from a social worker. We found that the...
Matched on
terms: carer