| Title |
East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership Carers Strategy 2025-2028 |
| Lead officer(s) |
Jim Murdoch - Senior Manager Wellbeing, Planning and Performance |
| Telephone number |
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| Email address |
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| Date summary created |
19 Nov 2025 |
| Date assessment completed |
10 Nov 2025 |
| Summary of policy aims |
The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 requires that each Health and Social Care Partnership reviews and publishes a local Carers Strategy at least every three years. This Equality Impact Assessment accompanies the draft East Ayrshire Carers Strategy 2025-2028 for consideration and approval.
The Strategy sets out how the Partnership will recognise, value, and support unpaid carers of all ages, and how it will fulfil the duties of the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016.
It contributes to the wider East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership Strategic Plan 2021 to 2030 and aligns with both national and local priorities, including the National Carers Strategy (2022) and the East Ayrshire Community Plan 2015-2030. |
| Key issues |
The Impact Assessment highlighted the positive impacts the strategy will have on young carers as well as adult carers. Carers with a disability and additional health needs has been identified as an area of focus for the strategy. |
| Summary of involvement with Groups |
East Ayrshire Carers Strategy 2025-28 has been informed by ongoing engagement and consultation with carers. We have drawn from anonymised feedback provided to the East Ayrshire Carers Centre collected from general enquiries and direct feedback from carers given while creating an Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP) and a Young Carer Statement (YCS).
A dedicated consultation was carried out on the contents of the draft Carers Strategy from 10th March to 18th April 2025. We focused on hearing from unpaid carers (young and adult) and people who use our services. Additionally, we captured views from our workforce, third sector organisations and the wider public.
Key themes were identified in the consultation feedback:
- Money and welfare rights
- Mental and physical health
- Problem solving
- Navigating services
- Having clear information as early as possible
- Need for emergency planning
Further details are provided in the Consultation and Engagement Report. The findings were used to develop our strategic priorities:
1. Promoting Health, Wellbeing, Respite, Short Breaks and Enjoyable Activities
2. Strengthening Financial Security and Employment Opportunities
3. Ensuring Voice, Recognition and Inclusion
4. Improving Support, Information and Care transitions
5. Digital and Technology |
| Key recommendations |
Strategy to be approved and Implementation Group to be established to take forward progressing the Strategy. Progress of implementation will be reported to the Strategic Planning Group. |