Dear South Ayrshire Council,

Cross Party Group on Carers requests the following recorded information under the terms of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 provides a duty on local authorities to prepare an Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP) (Section 6) or young carer statement (YCS) (Section 12) for anyone they identify as a carer, or for any carer who requests one.

Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 Statutory Guidance directly states in relation to ACSP:

“Where a person self-identifies as a carer they may request an adult carer support plan (ACSP). If they appear to meet the definition of carer, the responsible local authority must prepare an ACSP.

When carers are identified by practitioners, whether in the community or acute
settings, they must be offered an ACSP. If they accept the offer the responsible
local authority must prepare an ACSP.”

Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 Statutory Guidance also directly states in relation to YCS:

“Where a young person self-identifies as a carer they may request a young carer statement (YCS). If they appear to meet the definition of a young carer, the responsible authority must prepare a YCS.

When a young carer is identified by practitioners, whether in the community or acute settings, they must be offered a YCS. If they accept the offer the responsible authority must prepare a YCS.”

However, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic the Coronavirus Act 2020 (temporary legislation) was introduced, which allowed local authorities to ease some assessment duties. Section 16 of the Act allowed for temporary relaxation of local authorities duties in relation to preparation of adult carer support plans/young carer statements under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016.

Please indicate the following:
A. Exact number of ACSPs that have been completed in financial year 2019/2020.
B. Exact number of ACSPs that have been completed in financial year 2020/2021.
C. Exact number of carers with completed ACSPs in financial year 2019/2020 that met local eligibility criteria for support.
D. Exact number of carers with completed ACSPs in financial year 2020/2021 that met local eligibility criteria for support.
E. Average timescales from request to completion of ACSPs in financial year 2019/2020.
F. Average timescales from request to completion of ACSPs in financial year 2020/2021.
G. Confirm whether there was a waiting list for ACSPs in financial year 2019/2020 and what the average waiting time was.
H. Confirm whether there was a waiting list for ACSPs in financial year 2020/2021 and what the average waiting time was.
I. Confirm which service/s are responsible for undertaking ACSPs.
J. Exact number of YCSs that have been completed in financial year 2019/2020.
K. Exact number of YCSs that have been completed in financial year 2020/2021.
L. Exact number of young carers with completed YCSs in financial year 2019/2020 that met local eligibility criteria for support.
M. Exact number of young carers with completed YCSs in financial year 2020/2021 that met local eligibility criteria for support.
N. Average timescales from request to completion of YCSs in financial year 2019/2020.
O. Average timescales from request to completion of YCSs in financial year 2020/2021.
P. Confirm whether there was a waiting list for a YCS in financial year 2019/2020 and what was the average waiting time.
Q. Confirm whether there was a waiting list for a YCS in financial year 2020/2021 and what was the average waiting time.
R. Confirm which service/s is responsible for undertaking a YCS.

Paul Traynor, Carers Trust Scotland, Secretariat on behalf of the Cross Party Group on Carers

Cross Party Group on Carers Co-Convenors: Mark Griffin MSP and Tom Arthur MSP