Support for carers
A carer is generally defined as an individual who provides, or intends to provide, care for another individual.
VSA carer support service
VSA provide an Aberdeenshire Carer Support Service for unpaid adult carers and young carers in Aberdeenshire.
VSA recognise that every caring situation and every carer is different. They look at the impact caring has on the whole family and may identify solutions to benefit everyone.
VSA can offer support to identify the caring roles you do, how these might impact your life and support you to complete an Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP) or Young Carer Statement (YCS). They offer advice and information on what is available in your local community. Providing opportunities to meet other carers and share skills, knowledge and experiences. They can also provide opportunities to develop skills and confidence to help you in your caring role and improve your own health and wellbeing.
Adult Carer Support Plan or Young Carer Statement
The Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP) or Young Carer Statement (YCS) are the new tools under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 to work out a carer's needs and personal outcomes. They look at a carer's responsibilities and how the caring role impacts on their health and wellbeing.
VSA can help a carer complete an ACSP or YCS, identify where help may be needed, and then draw up a plan to support them.
Eligibility criteria
We use eligibility criteria for adult and young carers to access social care services.
The caring situation, the impact of caring on the carer's quality of life and the risk of the carer not being able to continue caring is discussed in the ACSP or YCS. These areas, or quality of life indicators, are used to assess a carer's eligibility for social care services.
The adult carers indicators have been adapted to better fit young carers using the Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) Wellbeing Indicators.
View the Aberdeenshire eligibility criteria for adult and young carers.
Short Breaks Service Statement
The Aberdeenshire Short Breaks Services Statement (SBSS) is a statement of information about the short breaks services available in Aberdeenshire, and across Scotland, for carers and the people they care for.
Carer's Allowance
If you care for someone at least 35 hours a week you may be entitled to the Carer's Allowance. You, and the person cared for, must meet the eligibility criteria.
The Carer's Allowance Supplement is an extra payment for those getting the Carer's Allowance. Introduced by the Scottish Government, it increases the Carer's Allowance to be the same as the Jobseeker's Allowance.
Find out if you are a carer
Our booklet Are you looking after someone? (PDF 1.1MB) helps to identify if you are a carer. It can help you decide if you would benefit from an ACSP to make sure you are getting the support you need. It also includes details of the support and advice available locally for unpaid carers.
Unpaid Carers' information pack
Our Unpaid Carers' information pack (PDF 1.3MB) is for adult and young (under the age of 18) unpaid carers who care for someone who may not be able to care for themselves. It contains information that you told us you'd find useful to have in one place.
If you'd like to give feedback, make any comments, queries or suggestions about the pack or about the future of unpaid carer support in Aberdeenshire, email us carersupport@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.
Community care assessment
The person you care for may also be entitled to a community care assessment. The assessment will help identify what community care services they need.
If the person you care for refuses a community care assessment or services for themselves you can still have an ACSP or YCS.
Privacy notices
Our privacy notices give more information about how we may use your data in providing support for carers: