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Have your say – Rights to breaks and timescales for support plans for unpaid carers

  • Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
  • Type: News Item
  • Published: 21st April 2026

The ALLIANCE are seeking views on the Scottish Government's rights to breaks and timescales for support plans for unpaid carers consultation

The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on proposals to introduce a new legal right to breaks for unpaid carers, alongside timescales for the preparation of support plans.

The purpose of this consultation is to help shape how this right will work in practice, including how “sufficient breaks” should be defined, what types of breaks should be available, and how quickly carers should receive support. A key aim is to improve consistency across Scotland, so that unpaid carers have more equitable access to support regardless of where they live.

Unpaid carers play a vital role in supporting people across Scotland, but many do not currently receive enough opportunities to take a break from their caring responsibilities. These proposals aim to ensure carers can maintain their health and wellbeing alongside caring, supported by a clearer and more consistent national approach.

The ALLIANCE will be responding to this consultation and we want to hear from you to inform our response. Your experiences and views will help ensure our response reflects what matters most to carers and the organisations that support them.

Please share your views using the questions below or get in touch at policy@alliance-scotland.org.uk by the 13th of May 2026.

Right to breaks and timescales for support plans for unpaid carers survey

Untitled(Required)

Section 1 – Definition of ‘sufficient breaks’

The definition of ‘sufficient breaks’ will be used by local authorities to assess whether a carer is getting enough time away from caring, and whether additional support should be provided. The aim is to ensure a more consistent approach across Scotland.The Scottish Government is proposing the following definition:“Sufficient breaks” means breaks from caring which enable a carer to have enough rest, leisure and time to:a) Avoid negative impacts from their caring role son their health and wellbeing, relationships with others, and life balance, and,b) Help them to achieve their personal outcomes in these same areas
To what extent do you agree with this proposed definition of ‘sufficient breaks’

Section 2 – Types of breaks

Currently, legislation does not set out a specific list of what types of support should be considered a ‘break’ from caring. The 2025 Act will allow Scottish Ministers to provide more clarity, with the aim of ensuring that a wide range of different types of breaks are recognised and available to carers.
Do you agree that it would be helpful to specify some of the types of support or activities which provide a break from caring?

The Scottish Government is considering different examples of what could count as a break and have created draft lists identifying some of the types of break options the Scottish Government want to clarify as acceptable

List One (carers are currently more likely to have difficulty accessing this type of break) including: • Group based breaks / carer peer support activities (e.g. carers’ craft group, choir, exercise classes) • Targeted breaks for young carers – including breaks with other young carers (e.g. young carer vouchers for cinema, zoo etc, as well as young carer group activities such as residentials, days out, movie nights) • Funding support for young carers to join activity-group based breaks (e.g. Scouts, Guides) • One-off family breaks at or immediately following transition periods/periods of significant change (e.g. during / after periods of significant illness, transition from children to adult services) • Culturally appropriate / culturally diverse breaks – including measures to address potential language barriers (e.g. linking with ethnic minority community groups to deliver targeted breaks for ethnic minority carers, ensuring diversity of short breaks under regulations, translating information about right to breaks) • Replacement care within the home, allowing the carer and cared-for person to enjoy activities without the need for the carer to provide care • Giving carers more time for themselves by providing support with regular tasks (e.g. housework, gardening etc.)

List Two (carers are currently less likely to have difficulty accessing this type of break where suitable facilities are available) including: • Building-based day care for the cared-for person – allowing the carer to have a break whilst the cared-for person is away from home (e.g. day services for older adults or people with learning disabilities or dementia) • Overnight short break stays for the cared-for person • Overnight short break stays for the carer, with replacement care for the cared-for person • Longer-term holiday breaks (e.g. hotel stay, holiday park, caravan etc) for the carer (with or without the cared-for person and/or wider family) with or without replacement care • Day trips and activities for the carer with or without the cared-for person (spa day, zoo, sporting event etc) • Subscription-based or item-based grants to enable the carer to try new activities/undertake hobbies etc

Section 3 – Timescales for support plans

The Scottish Government is seeking views on introducing set timescales for the preparation of Adult Carer Support Plans (ACSPs) and Young Carer Statements (YCS), to ensure carers receive timely support and to introduce defined timescales set in law across Scotland.
In setting timescales (i.e. time limit) for preparing an Adult Carer Support Plan, the Scottish Government have suggested the following options. Which option would you support?
Should the timescale for preparing young Carer Statements be the same as for Adult Carer Support Plans?

Section 4 – Additional Thoughts

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