Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support unpaid carers can access for respite care support.

No estimate has been made as the Department does not collect information on the number of unpaid carers. We are investing up to £25 million in the sector to identify and test new and existing interventions to support unpaid carers, which could include respite and breaks, peer group and wellbeing support and maximise the impact.

Local authorities are required to undertake a Carer’s Assessment for any carer who needs support. The assessment can record the impact on a carer and review their needs, including whether they are willing or able to continue caring. If a carer is assessed as having needs which are eligible for support, the local authority has a legal duty to meet those needs on request from the carer and devise a plan with the carer on how they will be met.