Carer Support Services
The Orkney Carers’ Charter
Orkney values it’s Carers and believes they have the right to be supported and respected, in their role as a Carer, as the expert on the person they care for, and as an individual.
Who are our Carers?
Orkney’s Carers are anyone, young or old, who provides unpaid support to their partner, a family member, or a friend, who experiences physical or mental disability, illness, or frailness.
What you can expect as a Carer, in Orkney
- We will try to identify you as a Carer as early as we can
- You will have choice and control over your caring role, and get the tailored support you need
- You will be acknowledged as the expert on the care needs for your cared-for person
- Your role as a Carer will not mean you are isolated and alone
- We will support you to be healthy and well
- Wherever possible, we will support you to maintain your full-time education or employment
Our Commitment
Orkney Health and Care, NHS Orkney, Orkney Islands Council, and their third sector partners will work together to provide the best quality support for all Carers.
Information for Carers - Carer’s Assessments
- What is an Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP) and what can I Expect?
- What will the ACSP cover?
- Do I have to complete an ACSP?
- Who do I speak to about getting an ACSP?
- What happens with my ACSP?
What is an Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP) and what can I Expect?
The Carers Act 2016 entitles every carer to an ACSP. You are a carer if you provide care to a family member or friend, in your own home or theirs, and are aged 18 or over. (If you are under 18, please visit our page for Young Carers
What is an ACSP?
An ACSP is a written record of the key points of a conversation you have with your support workers, along with the details of how you will be supported in your caring role. This conversation will help to find out more about you, what you do in your caring role, what you want to achieve (your goals), and all the things that are important to you.
It can help to find out what things you enjoy doing outside of your caring role and what help you might need to continue to do them. It will also help to look at what help other people, such as medical professionals, can provide to make sure that you aren’t doing anything you aren’t comfortable with.
What will the ACSP cover?
Your ACSP will cover your personal circumstances, personal outcomes and identified needs, as well as what support is available to you. These details must be included in all ACSP’s in Scotland, but you might talk about some other things, too. You don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to.
- Personal circumstances cover what your life is like, including who you live with, things you like doing and what you normally do each day.
- The personal outcomes that are included in your ACSP are a way of describing your aims, goals or hopes. This could be something like wanting to be able to spend more time with family and friends, or feeling more supported in your job.
- Identified needs are the things you need to achieve your goals or personal outcomes. You might already know what some of these needs are, or you might need to have a chat with a support worker to decide them.
If any of your identified needs meet the criteria we have in Orkney, we must provide you with support to meet those needs. The person supporting you with your ACSP can tell you more about these criteria and whether you meet them.
We also have to consider whether you would benefit from a short break. What this break looks like can vary depending on what works for you. This could include going to the cinema, getting sports equipment, or even a holiday. Owing to restrictions around COVID-19, your break might be different than what’s usually possible, but you will be supported in accessing something that is safe, based on what is happening.
The Conversation.
How this will help you as a carer.
- It will help to complete your ACSP, so your views and opinions are heard about your caring role.
- It helps support services to work out what advice and information you may need in relation to your caring role, as well as what support you require to continue in your caring role, if this is what you want to do.
The Things we Might Ask You about What You do as a Carer.
- Tell me about a normal day? What does your week look like?
- Talk me through your daily routine at home?
- What matters most to you?
- What do you like to do in your spare time? What hobbies do you have?
- Tell me what is difficult about your caring role? What things do you have to do?
- How do you feel about being a carer? How does this affect your day-to-day life?
- What help and support do you and/or your family get just now?
- Do people listen to you?
- What help might you need at home?
Do I have to complete an ACSP?
No; completing an ACSP is completely optional. If you say no, you can always change your mind later. If you ask to complete an ACSP, at any time, we will provide you with the opportunity to complete one.
Who do I speak to about getting an ACSP?
The best place to go to discuss your ACSP is Crossroads, the organisation that provides carer support services, in Orkney, on behalf of Orkney Islands Council. You can go straight to their website here. There telephone number is 01856 870500.
You can also contact us directly on 01856 873535. Please ask to speak to the Duty Social Worker.
What happens with my ACSP?
Once your ACSP has been written, you will receive a copy of what was written and can choose who you would like to share it with. It’s your document and you decide who gets to see it.
