National carers strategy: fairer Scotland duty assessment

Stage 3 – Assessment and improvement

what options could strengthen this programme/policy/decision in its impact on inequalities of outcome?

A separate stakeholder group could be created to monitor the success and impact of the actions committed specifically within the social and financial inclusion chapter which focus on improving equalities of outcome. This would encourage actions to be carried out effectively and in a timely manner. It would also provide the opportunity for those with lived experience of poverty and disadvantage to feedback on the impact of the actions and allow them to be adjusted accordingly.

what are the pros and cons of these options?

The pros include:

• ensuring the Strategy will be as targeted and impactful as possible
• carers, especially those living in poverty and experiencing disadvantage, will be supported during the cost of living crisis
• carers sitting on the stakeholder group will be at the centre of decisions impacting their life and will have the opportunity to feedback on the effectiveness of support initiatives

The cons include:

• more resources required to create an additional stakeholder group
• possible duplication of existing stakeholder groups
• possibility of carer fatigue from over-engagement and forming part of multiple panels/ groups for carers
• carers in the most intensive roles and struggling financially will find it most difficult to feed into these groups

After due consideration, it was decided that the actions committed specifically within the social and financial inclusion chapter can be monitored through the existing Carers Rights and Support Steering Group. This would overcome many of the cons mentioned above, including the possible duplication of stakeholder groups.

how could the programme/policy/decision be adjusted to address inequalities associated with particular groups? Communities of interest or of place who are more at risk of inequalities of the outcome?

We know that BAME carers and carers from gypsy/ traveller communities are less likely to engage with carer centres and national carer organisations. These carers also are more likely to experience poverty and disadvantage. As a result, more attention has been paid to help people self-identify as an unpaid carer and raise awareness of care, especially in these communities, so we can help to ensure an unpaid carer can access support, including any social security benefits to which they may be entitled.

In addition, there will be an executive summary and an easy read version of the Strategy. The easy read version is condensed and explains any complex concepts or more difficult language. These will be helpful for young carers, carers whose first language might not be English and carers in more demanding caring roles who have limited free time to read a full Strategy.