Section 01Service definition
A carers support service identifies unpaid carers early and helps them to look after their own health and wellbeing while continuing to care, if they choose to. The service usually provides information and advice, emotional and practical support, carers assessments or support plans, access to breaks, training, peer support and help with finances and employment.
Contracts are often split into lots:
- Adult carers support, sometimes called a carers hub or core carers service.
- Young carers and young adult carers support.
- Specialist lots, such as dementia carers support or mental health carers support.
Section 02Typical client cohort
Unpaid carers of all ages who look after a family member, partner or friend with an illness, disability, mental health need, addiction or frailty. Commissioners pay particular attention to hidden carers, carers from communities that are less likely to come forward, working carers, parent carers and young carers.
Section 03Commissioning and procurement context
Councils have duties to adult carers under the Care Act 2014 and to young carers under the Children and Families Act 2014, and many contracts are jointly funded with the local integrated care board. Contracts typically run for three to five years with optional extensions, and are commonly marked as suitable for small businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations.
Specifications increasingly expect the service to work alongside integrated neighbourhood teams, GP practices and hospital discharge teams, and to deliver some statutory functions such as carers assessments on the council's behalf.
Section 04Core service requirements
- Early identification of carers through health, social care, schools and community partners.
- Information, advice and signposting, including benefits, money and employment support.
- Carers assessments or support plans where delegated, with clear timescales and reviews.
- Access to breaks, wellbeing activities, peer support groups and training.
- Emergency and contingency planning for when the carer cannot care.
- Whole-family working for young carers, with schools and children's services.
- Outcome monitoring and regular contract reporting.
Section 05Regulatory and compliance framework
Most carers services are not registered with the Care Quality Commission, so evaluators judge governance through safeguarding for adults and children, information governance and UK GDPR, staff and volunteer recruitment checks, complaints handling and quality assurance. Where the service carries out delegated carers assessments, bids must show how decisions follow the Care Act 2014 and the council's eligibility process.
Section 06Key operational challenges
- Finding hidden carers who do not see themselves as carers.
- Meeting demand for assessments and breaks within the contract value.
- Showing outcomes such as carer wellbeing and sustained caring, not just contacts.
- Reaching diverse communities and working carers outside office hours.
Section 07How we approach this setting
We read the specification and the entire tender pack in full, map every lot and requirement, and build answers that show how carers are found, supported and kept well over time. We draw on your own data, partnerships and case examples, and link them to the local carers strategy and commissioning priorities.
Section 08Where this applies
All-age carers support services, adult and young carers lots, carers hubs, dementia carers support, and integrated carers and prevention contracts commissioned by councils and integrated care boards.
