The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has today published a report titled Local Authority Assessments 2023–2026: Emerging Themes and Findings drawing together findings from the first-ever national programme of assessments of local authorities in England, including the identification and support offered to unpaid carers. 

Key findings on unpaid carers include: 

• Large variations in identification and support offered to unpaid carers at a local level. 

• Unpaid carers are less satisfied with the services and support they receive than the wider cohort of people using services. (65% of people using services reported that they were very or extremely satisfied with the care and support they received, compared with just 37% of carers). 

• Over three-quarters of local authorities achieved the lower scores of 1 or 2 (lowest scores) for how they assess needs, mainly because of the delays that people, including unpaid carers, experienced in receiving an initial assessment and timely review. 

• Strong practice was highlighted where carers were supported through well-commissioned voluntary and community services. Partnerships with the voluntary and community sector are a vital way of identifying carers. 

The report echoes what Carers UK has been hearing from unpaid carers through its State of Caring survey over several years. Many say they are being increasingly relied on to provide more care themselves because the support isn’t there. 

Tamara Sandoul, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers UK said: 

"We welcome the strong focus on unpaid carers in CQC's first ever national assessment of local authorities report. However, this report lays bare the large gap between the support that carers should receive and what they get in practice. Local authorities have a statutory duty to assess, support and promote the wellbeing of unpaid carers, yet many areas are not identifying carers proactively until crisis point and leaving unpaid carers waiting a long time for Carer's Assessments. There are clear areas for improvement, some of which is down to practice, and some down to the fact that cash-strapped local authorities are rationing care.  

“While there are clearly pockets of good practice in some areas - particularly where the voluntary sector has been involved - all unpaid carers, no matter where they live, need and deserve support and recognition to help them manage their role and to have a fulfilling life outside of caring. Carers are far less satisfied with the support they receive compared to other service users - nearly half the rate of people receiving care (37% to 65%). In our view, this is a sign that they feel less supported. This highlights not just the urgency with which carers should be prioritised at a national and local level but also shows how important it is to collect data on the experiences of unpaid carers as a separate group, recognising their distinct needs.  

“Collectively, carers contribute £184bn a year through their unpaid care across the UK. Without unpaid carers' joint efforts, the health and social care system would collapse. Yet it is clear, that many are not getting the recognition and support to which they are entitled to by law. This needs to change, starting with better proactive identification and recognition of carers' importance and vital role at a UK-Government level."