Introduction

In this chapter the discussion focuses on key policies on unpaid care since the 1990s, including those that are specifically about support for carers and others of direct relevance to unpaid care. As discussed in Chapter 1, carers’ campaigning groups were active in the development of policies, becoming centrally involved in the development of care in the community. Yet, the policy context in 1990 was unpromising to carers. Not only were resources for care services restricted and priority given to service users without carers but also the reorganisation of services had created a complex and unstable system that became difficult for unpaid carers to negotiate. Key aims of the community care reforms were to break what was perceived by the government of the day as the British public's over-reliance for support on the ‘nanny’ state and to shrink the role of the state as service provider. The achievement of these aims had significant and long-term consequences for unpaid care, despite differences in subsequent political agendas. Since 1990, carers’ campaigning has grown and diversified beyond the sphere of health and social care to include better conditions for carers in employment as well as benefits and entitlement to pensions. In terms of their engagement with the policy process, it is fair to conclude that carers’ organisations have not only been active at the heart of policy making on unpaid care but have also worked consistently to raise awareness of the centrality of unpaid care to social and economic life in general.

The discussion takes the form of an outline of key policies, primarily those developed in health and social services. These are presented in broadly chronological order in phases starting with the 1995 Carers (Recognition and Services) Act to the present day. Attention is given to the development of policies in the devolved nations, noting areas of similarity and difference. From this outline, key themes are identified and examined.

Table 3.1 sets out the key policies and strategies on unpaid care in the four nations of the UK.

The Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995

In the early 1990s carers’ campaigns for recognition gained ground in the Westminster Parliament. In 1994, Malcolm Wicks MP introduced the Carers (Recognition and Services) Bill to the House of Commons.