The What If? Plan is a free service to help unpaid carers.

If, for any reason a carer is unable to carry out their duties, due to sudden illness, an accident or other unplanned event, they can have an emergency support plan in place, for the person they look after so they are not left alone. 

How to qualify for a free What If? Plan: 

• If the person you care for is over 18* and lives in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough,
• If you are a parent carer looking after someone who is under 18 you can register an emergency plan, in the case of an emergency the team would contact your nominated contact(s) on your behalf.

What counts as an emergency?

An emergency counts as anything that can not be planned for such as:

• Sudden illness
• Unplanned admission to hospital
• Family emergency (e.g. close relative taken ill)
• Risk to employment
• Had an accident or car has broken down
• Unable to care due to impact of caring on physical/mental wellbeing.

The service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.

This is a free service funded by Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, to look after adults with care needs during an emergency involving their family carer. This is done by getting in touch with the nominated contacts, with back-up support available, if essential.

'What If?' Plan | Support in the event of an emergency