Time Away From Caring: Good Practice in Carer Breaks

Time Away From Caring: Good Practice in Carer Breaks, is a case study led report and resource which:

• Brings together evidence on the importance of breaks for unpaid carers – both empirical data and evidence collected as part of the project and Carers Trust’s wider work with local carer organisations and carers.
• Highlights good practice in providing breaks collected.
• Gives top tips to commissioners and providers on what steps they can take to ensure the carers they support have access to breaks.

Carers Trust developed this report and resources as part of the Health and Wellbeing Alliance, alongside Carers UK. The project, supported by the Department of Health and Social Care, looked at good practice in delivering carer breaks and using these good practice examples, in depth interviews with experts, developed top tips for commissioners and providers.

This project explored good practice from local carer organisations and others in providing breaks to adult carers. Within the broad spectrum of carer breaks, the project also explores what works for carers from ethnic minority communities and LGBTQ+ communities – both of which are communities that face additional barriers. In addition, there is a focus on digital support and the barriers this may create for older carers.

From the good practice case studies, we have identified some common elements to help commissioners and providers establish a breaks provision that meets the needs of unpaid carers.

We know how vital breaks are to many carers and want to ensure that more carers get the breaks they want. This document will aid commissioners and providers who want to develop and enhance their carer breaks offer.

Download these resources from the right hand side of this page, or if on a mobile device, these might be at the top of the page.

If you have any comments email policy@carers.org