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Tuesday, 7 October 2008
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Caring for someone
The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act
The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act ensures that carers are able to take up opportunities that people without caring responsibilities often take for granted, such as working, studying or leisure activities.
Local authorities' responsibilities under the Act
The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act came into force in April 2005 and is intended to provide a firm foundation for better practice by councils and the health service. It builds on existing legislation and support for carers by:
- placing a duty on local authorities to ensure that all carers know that they are entitled to an assessment of their needs
- placing a duty on councils to consider a carer's outside interests (work, study or leisure) when carrying out an assessment
- promoting better joint working between councils and the health service to ensure support for carers is delivered in a coherent manner
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