It is estimated that before the Covid-19 pandemic there were around 700,000 to 800,000 unpaid carers in Scotland. Recent polls suggest this may now have risen to over a million. Unpaid carers are a vital part of the health and social care system, however caring responsibilities affect many carers’ mental and physical health. The Care Inspectorate is carrying out a national inquiry into adult unpaid carers experiences of social work and social care.

We will talk to unpaid carers directly about how social work and social care services support them to maintain or improve their quality of life and support their ability to continue to care. From this work we will learn lessons about how the future support of carers can be developed and improved.

As part of the inquiry, our national unpaid carer survey opens today Thursday 14 April and will be open until Friday 3 June. We are keen to hear from unpaid carers from all across Scotland. The survey covers all adults who care and need care but not children and young carers. The survey takes no more than 15 minutes to complete.

The survey can be accessed at https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/Carer_Survey/

By completing the survey, you are contributing valuable insight into your experience of being an unpaid carer in Scotland. Your survey response will be completely anonymous and along with other unpaid carers across Scotland will contribute towards the findings and learning that the inquiry will highlight. We intend to publish the inquiry report in August 2022.

If you need the survey in another language or format, we would be happy to provide this for you. Please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you have any queries, please contact us at the email address above.

Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey.