Support for unpaid carers in Devon will continue as Devon County Council introduces new arrangements from 1 October 2026.
Devon County Council has announced changes to the way some carers’ services will be delivered from 1 October 2026.
Unpaid carers make a vital contribution across Devon, supporting family members, friends and neighbours who could not otherwise manage without their help.
The council supports around 35,000 carers, although the total number of people in caring roles across Devon is likely to be significantly higher.
The current Caring Well in Devon contract, delivered by Westbank Health and Care on behalf of Devon County Council, will come to an end on 30 September 2026.
From 1 October 2026, carers’ assessments, reviews and the Carers Helpline will move into Devon County Council under the new arrangements.
Support for unpaid carers will continue beyond 30 September 2026, with new arrangements being introduced to ensure carers continue to receive the advice, information and support they need.
Experienced staff who currently deliver carers’ assessments, reviews and helpline support are expected to transfer to the Council, helping ensure valuable skills, expertise and relationships are retained within the service.
Bringing these services into the council will strengthen links with Adult Social Care services and make it easier for carers to access support.
The council says that it recognises that carers need more than assessments and reviews alone.
Under the new arrangement, peer support, wellbeing services and opportunities to connect with other carers will play an important role in supporting carers across Devon, with peer support services and carer ambassador services being recommissioned with new contracts expected to start from 1 October 2026.
Existing providers, including Westbank Health and Care, have been invited to bid.
The council is also working with voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to develop a new Carer Wellbeing Alliance, bringing together local organisations to provide community-based support, information, advice and wellbeing opportunities closer to home.
Arrangements with Citizens Advice to support unpaid carers will continue as normal.
The council is in the process of contacting carers to inform them of the new arrangements, but is reliant on Westbank Health and Care confidentially sharing carers’ contact details with them.
Councillor Richard Keeling, Lead Member for Adult Services, said:
“Support for unpaid carers is not ending.
“We remain fully committed to investing in support for unpaid carers. Our budget for carers’ support is not changing.
“Unpaid carers make an enormous contribution to communities across Devon, often balancing caring responsibilities alongside work, education and family life.
“We want carers to be able to access the right support at the right time.
“Bringing carers’ assessments, reviews and the Carers Helpline closer to Adult Social Care will make services easier to access while building on the support already available across Devon.
“These changes are intended to strengthen support, improve access to help and ensure services continue to meet carers’ needs in future.
“We would like to have contacted carers who are supported under the current contract before now to inform them of the new arrangements from October. Once we have received their details, we will be contacting them directly with reassurance of our continued support to them.”
If you are an unpaid carer, supported by Westbank Health and Care under the Council’s contract, and have not already been contacted by the Council, please email our Carers Strategy mailbox at carersstrategy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk with your name and contact details. We will ensure that you receive the information you need.
You can read more about the new arrangement for carers online. Update on carers’ support services in Devon