Unpaid Carers Action Plan

Government launches new action plan for unpaid carers

The government has unveiled a new action plan aimed at improving support for England’s millions of unpaid carers, promising a more joined-up approach across health, social care, employment and education.

The Unpaid Carers Action Plan, built around the themes of Recognise, Refer and Reach, sets out how different government departments and public services will work together over the next two years to identify carers earlier, connect them with support and help them maintain their own health and wellbeing.

While the plan contains relatively few immediate changes, it represents the first cross-government strategy focused specifically on unpaid carers and acknowledges the vital role they play in supporting family members and friends.

 

Recognise

The first priority is ensuring that unpaid carers are recognised before they reach crisis point.

Many people do not identify themselves as carers, while professionals may overlook the support they provide. As a result, carers can miss out on financial help, practical support and services designed to protect their own health.

The action plan aims to improve awareness among NHS staff, social care professionals, schools, colleges and employers so that carers are identified earlier and their needs are taken into account.

The government also wants carers to be routinely involved in decisions about the people they support, including during hospital discharge planning and care discussions.
 

Refer

The second strand focuses on making sure carers are directed towards the help that is already available.

This includes improving referrals to local carers’ organisations, advice services and financial support, as well as making information easier to find through a new central source on GOV.UK.

The government also plans to develop a dedicated MyCarer section within the NHS App. The aim is to give carers easier access to information, advice and digital services, alongside improvements to the app’s proxy access arrangements so carers can more easily help manage another person’s healthcare where appropriate.

Alongside the action plan, ministers have also committed to reviewing how support such as Carer’s Allowance can better meet carers’ needs, with work continuing through the government’s wider review of the benefit.
 

Reach

The final strand recognises that caring responsibilities should not prevent people from remaining in work, education or training if they choose to do so.

The government says it wants employers, schools, colleges and universities to better understand the needs of carers and to offer more flexible support where possible.

It will also continue work linked to the Carer’s Leave Act, helping employers understand their responsibilities and encouraging good practice in supporting employees with caring responsibilities.

The plan acknowledges that carers themselves are at greater risk of poor physical and mental health, social isolation and financial hardship. Improving access to health checks, mental health support and wellbeing services is therefore another important objective.
 

A long-term programme

Rather than introducing a single major reform, the action plan brings together work already under way across several government departments while setting out new commitments for future development.

Many of the measures will be delivered gradually over the next two years, with progress monitored through regular updates. Some proposals, including changes relating to benefits and employment support, will also depend on future consultations and wider government reforms.

For unpaid carers, the immediate impact is therefore likely to be limited. However, the plan does represent an acknowledgement that carers’ needs cannot be addressed by health or social care services alone, and require coordinated action across government.
 

What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

The action plan applies only to England.

Health, social care and carers’ support are devolved matters, meaning Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own policies and programmes for supporting unpaid carers.

However, many of the challenges identified in the plan—including recognising carers earlier, improving access to information and helping people balance caring with work or education—are shared across the UK.
 

Independent Living comment

For many unpaid carers, the frustration has never been a lack of commitment, but a lack of recognition. Too often, people only discover they are entitled to support after months or even years of struggling alone.

If the new action plan succeeds in helping GPs, hospitals, councils, employers and schools identify carers sooner and connect them with the right advice, it could make a meaningful difference to thousands of families.

The real test, however, will be whether these ambitions translate into practical improvements on the ground. Carers have seen strategies come and go before, and many will judge this one not by the number of promises it contains, but by whether it genuinely makes caring easier and helps them access the support they need.

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Further reading and resources

Carers’ rights and resources

Carers’ Week report

The Cost of Caring – Carers UK 2025

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