Carers Rights

Understand your rights as a carer

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Understanding your rights as a carer

Learn more about your rights under the Social Services Well-being (Wales) Act.

The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act came into effect on 6 April 2016. This law exists to improve the well-being of people in Wales, particularly those who need care and support, and carers who need support.

The Act explains that well-being is:

Making sure you know about your rights and what they mean for you.
Being healthy.
Protection from abuse, harm and neglect.
Having access to employment, education, training, sports and leisure.
Having positive relationships with family and friends.
Being part of the community.
Having a social life.
Having a safe and secure home.

There are several rights included in the Act that are important for you to know and understand. These rights are the same for all carers, whether you are a child, a young person, or an adult.

The right to well-being

Your local authority, local health board, and Welsh Ministers must promote the well-being of people who need care and support, and carers who need support.

The right to have information, advice, and assistance

Your local authority must provide information, advice, and assistance about support services so you can find and access them.

The right to an assessment if your needs cannot be met by information and advice

Your local authority must carry out a carer’s needs assessment for carers who may need support. This assessment is to find out what help you need.

Your right to an assessment is not affected by how much money you have, but you may be asked to contribute to the cost of your support.

The right to have your voice heard and have control over decisions about your support

During your assessment, your local authority must ask you what matters to you as a carer, or a young carer. You must be involved in all decisions about your support. This will include whether the local authority arranges your care or you arrange it using a direct payment.

If you’d like, you can choose to have a friend or family member by your side to help you.

Some local authorities may combine a carers’ needs assessment with an assessment for the person being cared for. This can only be done if you give your consent.

The right to advocacy

If you are unable to fully take part in discussions yourself, an advocate is someone who can help make your voice heard when decisions are made about your support.

An independent advocate must be arranged if you are unable to speak up for yourself or do not have someone to support you to express your views, wishes, and feelings

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Local Authorities Social Services Information, Advice, and Assistance Helplines

Area name	Contact details
Isle of Anglesey County Council	01248 752752
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council	01495 315700
Bridgend County Borough Council	01656 642279
Caerphilly County Borough Council	0808 100 2500
Cardiff City Council	029 2087 2087
Carmarthenshire County Council – Delta Wellbeing	0300 333 2222 (24hrs)
Ceredigion County Council	01545 574000
Conwy County Borough Council	0300 456 1111
Conwy County Borough Council	0300 456 1111
Denbighshire County Council	0300 456 1000
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council	01443 425003
Swansea Carers Centre	01792 653344
Flintshire County Council	03000 858858
Gwynedd Council	Llŷn area: 01758 704099 Caernarfon area: 01286 679099 Bangor area: 01248 363240 Eifionydd and Meirionnydd North: 01766 510300 South Meirionnydd: 01341 424572
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council	01685 725000
Monmouthshire County Council	01633 644644
Neath Port Talbot Council	01639 686802
Newport City Council	01633 656656
Pembrokeshire County Council	01437 764551
Powys County Council	0345 602 7050
Torfaen County Borough Council	01495 762200
Vale of Glamorgan Council	01446 700111
Wrexham County Borough Council	01978 292066