Author Archives: wendy
The Government wants your views for the Draft Care and Support Bill
Draft Care and Support Bill forum
The Joint Committee on the draft Care and Support Bill, chaired by Paul Burstow MP, is conducting pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Bill and has set up this web forum to hear the views of carers.
The Committee would like to hear about your experiences as a carer and what impact you think the Government’s proposed legislation might have on your own situation, either positive or negative. Your comments will help inform the recommendations the Committee makes to the Government in their report.
The draft Bill covers a number of areas relating to care and support but the Committee would particularly like to hear the views of carers on three key areas. This forum will close on 22 February.
Responsibilities of local authorities
The draft Bill proposes a ‘broader care and support role’ for local authorities. What impact do you think the proposed changes will have on the role of local authorities? Will the proposed changes help carers?
Carers ICare card will be a help because CA is so low
ICare Card sheme launches for Shropshire carers
Called the ‘ICare Card’, the scheme is appealing for local businesses, both large and small, to offer a discount and other benefits to the thousands of carers in Shropshire.
Julie Alanthwaite of Shropshire RCC said: “This unseen army of carers struggle to cope not only with the pressure of caring for a friend or loved one, but also with the cost involved, so any help provided by local businesses can make a big difference.
“The government carers allowance scheme for somebody doing around 35 hours a week amounts to no more than just £1.67 per hour, which is significantly lower than the minimum wage.”
