A Carers and Equalities Checklist

This checklist is designed to support all public sector organisations in promoting the welfare of carers. This means that all changes in policy or service delivery should be ‘impact assessed’ in consultation with carers to ensure:
- where possible added value for carers
- and no negative impacts for carers
- If potential negative impacts are unavoidable, there is a plan to mitigate them

• Recognition of the important role carers play and their right to a life beyond caring and that carers have their own needs and aspirations
• A right to a family life
• Protection from serious injury or harm caused by caring and lack of support
• Choice about whether or not the carer is able or willing to take on or continue the caring role and how to provide that care
• Equity of access to support and services for carers of any race, religion, culture, gender, disability, age, location or sexual orientation.
• Giving Carers a Voice through regular, formal and informal channels by those who provide support and services with feedback given.
• Information which is accurate and comprehensive is given to carers when needed, before during and after caring
• Opportunities and support to work, access training or education and leisure
• Financial Support through the benefits, pensions and other entitlements and minimum charges for services
• Training to ensure staff and service providers can identify carers and are well informed about carers’ issues and rights.
• Carers’ health and wellbeing to be promoted and recognising that carers have their own health needs
• Respect by not misusing the term ‘carer.’  Many carers find being called ‘informal carer’ offensive and see nothing informal about undertaking regular and substantial care. Do not call social care or health staff, ‘carers’, ‘paid carers’ or ‘formal carers’. Misusing the term ‘carer’ causes much confusion, preventing carers from understanding their rights.