Care Matters - A Guide to the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004

The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 was designed to facilitate independent living and maximise potential. It was integral to wider proposals for the reform of health and social care at the time, but it poses challenges and will require active strategic partnerships between local authorities, family carers and the people they support.

This guide, published in 2007, considers the Act and its implications with specific reference to improving life chances (rather than providing traditional models of care). It also explores positive strategies for the achievement of equality of opportunity and sets out the relationship between (and contributions from) other relevant legislation and policy development.

The guide was funded by the Elizabeth Nuffield Education Fund (ENEF).