Toolkits for unpaid carers
A good first step is to understand your rights as an unpaid carer and the support that may be available to you.
Information on this page is mainly relevant to the Highland Health and Social Care Partnership area. For the Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership area, read about Support for carers at the Argyll and Bute Council website.
We describe two resources here and recommend using both together.
The Unpaid Carers Toolkit from In Control Scotland provides broad information about carers' rights and options across Scotland.
The Wee Unpaid Carers Book of Support explains the support and services available in the local Highland area.
On this page
Unpaid Carers Toolkit from In Control Scotland
In Control Scotland has developed a free Unpaid Carers Toolkit (updated August 2026). The toolkit provides practical information to help you:
understand your role as an unpaid carer
learn about your rights
prepare for conversations about support
think about what matters most to you and the person you care for
The toolkit was developed with input from unpaid carers and practitioners, helping to ensure it reflects real experiences and practical needs.
We encourage you to download and save a copy. If helpful, print it and keep it somewhere accessible. You can take it with you to appointments, phone calls and meetings, and use the worksheets to make notes, prepare questions and keep track of important information.
For more information about unpaid carers and the Toolkit, visit Unpaid Carers at In Control Scotland.
View or download the Unpaid Carers Toolkit (pdf, August 2026).
The Wee Unpaid Carers Book of Support
Alongside the Scotland-wide toolkit, NHS Highland produce a shorter, local unpaid carers toolkit, which explains local services, support pathways and who to contact in Highland.
Speak to an NHS Highland professional about getting a paper copy, or view or download The Wee Unpaid Carers Book of Support (pdf, August 2026).
Unpaid carers - related pages
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Unpaid carers
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Routes to getting support
Dynamic Carer Assessment or Connecting Carers.
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Rights under the Carers Act
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Toolkits for unpaid carers
A good first step is to understand your rights as an unpaid carer and the support that may be available to you.
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Breaks and support for unpaid carers
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Resources and guidance for unpaid carers
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