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282 <h2>
282 Young Carers
282 </h2>
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287 <div id="scope_box">
288 <h3>
288 SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
288 </h3>
289 <p>
289 This chapter provides guidance on identifying and supporting young carers. Since April 2015, local
authorities have had a duty to take 'reasonable steps' to identify children in their area who are
young carers, and to determine if they need support. Local authorities must carry out an
assessment whenever it appears that a young carer has a need for support (this could be either in
their capacity as a young carer or in a more general sense as a child or young person). This
assessment is called a Young Carer's Needs Assessment.
289 </p>
290 <p>
290 Bexley has commissioned IMAGO, a specialist service to assess and provide services to Bexley young
carers.
290 </p>
291 <h3>
291 RELATED GUIDANCE
291 </h3>
292 <p>
292 <a
href="http://www.carersuk.org/files/section/4630/factsheet-e1029--assessments-and-the-care-act-aft
er-april-2015.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
292 Assessments and the Care Act
292 </a>
292 </p>
293 <p>
293 <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/527/pdfs/uksi_20150527_en.pdf" target="_blank"
rel="noopener">
293 The Young Carers (Needs Assessment) Regulations (DOE, March 2015)
293 </a>
293 </p>
294 <p>
294 <a href="https://professionals.carers.org/young-carer-assessment-tools" target="_blank"
rel="noopener">
294 Carers Trust
294 </a>
294 - resources and information on young carers (including assessment tools)
294 </p>
295 <h3>
295 LOCAL INFORMATION
295 </h3>
296 <p>
296 <a href="http://www.imago.community/Children-and-Young-People/Bexley-Young-Carers"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">
296 Bexley Young Carers
296 </a>
296
296 </p>
297 <p>
297 <a href="http://www.bexleymoorings.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
297 Bexley Moorings Project
297 </a>
297
297 </p>
298 <h3>
298 AMENDMENT
298 </h3>
299 <p>
299 This chapter was been extensively revised in October 2017 with regard to providing guidance on
identifying and supporting young carers. Since April 2015, local authorities have had a duty to
take 'reasonable steps' to identify children in their area who are young carers, and to determine
if they need support. Local authorities must carry out an assessment whenever it appears that a
young carer has a need for support (this could be either in their capacity as a young carer or in
a more general sense as a child or young person). This assessment is called a Young Carer's Needs
Assessment.
299 </p>
300 </div>
301 <div id="sections">
303 <h3 id="sections_list">
303 Contents
303 </h3>
304 <ol>
305 <li>
305 <a href="#definition">
305 Background and Definition
305 </a>
305 </li>
306 <li>
306 <a href="#identifying">
306 Identifying Young Carers
306 </a>
306 </li>
307 <li>
307 <a href="#assessing">
307 Assessing Need and Providing Support
307 </a>
307 </li>
308 <li>
308 <a href="#transition">
308 Transition
308 </a>
308 </li>
309 <li>
309 <a href="#further">
309 Further Reading
309 </a>
309 </li>
310 </ol>
311 <h3 id="definition">
311 1. Background and Definition
311 </h3>
312 <p>
312 The Children and Families Act 2014 amended the Children Act 1989 to make it easier for young
carers to get an assessment of their needs by introducing 'whole family' approaches to assessment
and support. Local authorities must offer a Young Carer's Needs Assessment where it appears that a
child is involved in providing care for a family member and requires support. A similar provision
was introduced in the Care Act 2014, requiring local authorities to consider the needs of young
carers if, during the assessment of an adult carer or adult with care needs, it appears that a
child is providing, or intends to provide, care.
312 </p>
313 <p>
313 Under the Children and Families Act 2014, a young carer is defined as:
313 </p>
314 <p>
314 <span class="italic">
314 'A person under 18 who provides, or intends to provide, care for another person. The concept of
'care' includes practical or emotional support, and 'another person' means anyone within the
same family, be they adult or child'.
314 </span>
314 </p>
315 <p>
315 Young carers undertake a wide range of caring roles and responsibilities in the family home
including providing emotional support and personal care, undertaking housework and budgeting. The
duty on local authorities to identify and assess the support needs of young carers applies
regardless of the type of support they are providing.
315 </p>
316 The Children and Families Act definition excludes children providing care as part of contracted work
or as voluntary work unless the local authority consider that the relationship between the person
cared for and the young person under 18 is such that it would be appropriate for him/her to be
regarded as a young carer.
317 <h3 id="identifying">
317 2. Identifying Young Carers
317 </h3>
318 <p>
318 Local authorities are expected to take 'reasonable steps' to identify children in their area who
are young carers. The local authority must carry out an assessment if it appears that the young
carer may have needs for support and, if so, should identify what those needs are.
318 </p>
319 <p>
319 The duty to assess applies where there is an appearance of need i.e. there does not have to be a
specific 'request'.
319 </p>
320 <p>
320 Identifying young carers is not always easy. Research has found that a significant proportion of
young carers do not disclose their caring responsibilities to their school, and that often young
people (and their families) do not recognise themselves as 'young carers'. Furthermore, parents
and carers can be reluctant to disclose information about caring responsibilities for fear of
repercussions, including children's social care involvement and potential family separations.
320 </p>
321 <p>
321 Adopting a whole family approach is recommended as the best way to identify young people who are
caring for a family member. This means that whenever an adult is receiving social care or support,
any assessments undertaken should always include discussions about children in the household to
identify if they have caring responsibilities and may, therefore, require support as a young
carer. Providing the right care to adult family members at the right time is vital, and helps to
ensure that children do not take on inappropriate caring tasks. The need for children to provide
care is increased when services to ill or disabled adults (or other family members) are
inadequate, inappropriate or missing and when family-based interventions are not provided.
321 </p>
322 <p>
322 Schools also have a vital role to play in identifying and supporting young people who are helping
to care for family members.
322 </p>
323 <p>
323 Where it is identified that a child may be a young carer, a referral can be made to
323 <a href="http://www.imago.community/Children-and-Young-People/Bexley-Young-Carers"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">
323 IMAGO: Bexley Young Carers
323 </a>
323 .
323 </p>
324 <h3 id="assessing">
324 3. Assessing Need and Providing Support
324 </h3>
325 <p>
325 The local authority must carry out a Young Carer's Needs Assessment whenever a young carer is
identified and it appears they may need support. The assessment must consider whether the care
being provided by the child is excessive or inappropriate and how the child's caring
responsibilities affect their wellbeing, education and development.
325 </p>
326 <p>
326 Clear communication between professionals and families at the start of the assessment process is
important to allay any concerns parents and young people may have about the assessment and its
likely consequences.
326 </p>
327 <p>
327 Local authority adults' and children's services should work together to offer young carers and
their families an effective service which avoids the need for multiple assessments. The Needs
Assessment should be carried out in a manner which is appropriate and proportionate to the needs
and circumstances of the young carer to whom it relates.
327 </p>
328 Assessments of young carers and the people they care for are intrinsically linked, and the
regulations allow local authorities to combine assessments. Whoever carries out the assessment must:
329 <ul>
330 <li>
330 Appropriately trained;
330 </li>
331 <li>
331 Have sufficient knowledge and skill to be able to carry out the assessment; and
331 </li>
332 <li>
332 Be an appropriate person to carry out the assessment having regard to the young carer's
circumstances, in particular the young carer's age, sex and understanding.
332 </li>
333 </ul>
334 <p>
334 Ideally assessments should be carried out promptly following identification or disclosure of a
young person's caring responsibilities.
334 </p>
335 In carrying out the assessment, the local authority must, in particular, have regard to:
336 <ul>
337 <li>
337 The young carer's age, understanding and family circumstances;
337 </li>
338 <li>
338 The wishes, feelings and preferences of the young carer;
338 </li>
339 <li>
339 Any differences of opinion between the young carer, the young carer's parents and the person
cared for, with respect to the care which the young carer provides (or intends to provide); and
339 </li>
340 <li>
340 The outcomes the young carer seeks from the assessment.
340 </li>
341 </ul>
342 <p>
342 In order to ensure full and meaningful participation in the assessment process, the following
people must be provided with age appropriate information about the manner and form of the
assessment prior to the start of the assessment:
342 </p>
343 <ul>
344 <li>
344 The young carer;
344 </li>
345 <li>
345 The person cared for;
345 </li>
346 <li>
346 The young carer's parents; and
346 </li>
347 <li>
347 Any other person whom the young carer or a parent of the young carer requests should participate
in the assessment.
347 </li>
348 </ul>
349 <p>
349 ('Parent' includes:
349 </p>
350 <ul>
351 <li>
351 A parent of the young carer who does not have parental responsibility; and
351 </li>
352 <li>
352 A person who is not a parent, but has parental responsibility.)
352 </li>
353 </ul>
354 <p>
354 Overall, the Young Carer's Needs Assessment must consider the impact of the needs of the young
carer's family on the well-being of the young carer and any child in that family and, in
particular, on their education and personal and emotional development. The assessment should take
into account the strengths of a family, as well as identifying any challenges faced by its
members.
354 </p>
355 <p>
355 The local authority must consult with persons with expertise and knowledge in relation to the
young carer as part of the assessment process, including teachers, health workers and other
relevant adults. It is important to speak to the child alone, wherever possible, and to observe
how they relate with their parents and siblings.
355 </p>
356 <p>
356 The assessment must consider the following:
356 </p>
357 <ul>
358 <li>
358 The amount, nature and type of care which the young carer provides (or intends to provide); the
extent to which this care is (or will be) relied upon by the family, including the wider family,
to maintain the well-being of the person cared for;
358 </li>
359 <li>
359 Whether any of the tasks which the young carer is performing (or intends to perform) when
providing care are excessive or inappropriate having regard to all the circumstances, and in
particular, the carer's age, sex, wishes and feelings. Inappropriate tasks could include:
360 <ul>
361 <li>
361 Personal care such as bathing and toileting;
361 </li>
362 <li>
362 Strenuous physical tasks such as lifting;
362 </li>
363 <li>
363 Administering medication;
363 </li>
364 <li>
364 Maintaining the family budget;
364 </li>
365 <li>
365 Offering precociously mature, emotional support to the adult.
365 </li>
366 </ul>
367 </li>
368 <li>
368 How parental health impacts on their capacity to meet the child's needs;
368 </li>
369 <li>
369 Whether any of the young carer's needs for support could be prevented by providing services to:
370 <ul>
371 <li>
371 The person cared for; or
371 </li>
372 <li>
372 Another member of the young carer's family.
372 </li>
373 </ul>
374 </li>
375 <li>
375 Whether the young carer's needs for support could be prevented if the carer were relieved of
part or all of the tasks the young carer performs (or intends to perform) when providing care;
375 </li>
376 <li>
376 Whether any other assessment of the needs for support of the young carer or the person cared for
has been carried out (and if it has, to take this into account);
376 </li>
377 <li>
377 Whether the young carer is a child in need;
377 </li>
378 <li>
378 Any actions to be taken as a result of the assessment; and
378 </li>
379 <li>
379 The arrangements for a future review.
379 </li>
380 </ul>
381 <p>
381 Also to be taken into consideration is the impact of the needs of the young carer's family on the
well-being of the young carer and any child in that family and, in particular, on their
educational and personal development. For example:
381 </p>
382 <ul>
383 <li>
383 Whether the young person's caring role limits their educational opportunities, perhaps because
it means they have more absences from school; or
383 </li>
384 <li>
384 Whether caring prevents the child from building relationships and friendships; or
384 </li>
385 <li>
385 How caring affects the child's physical and emotional wellbeing.
385 </li>
386 </ul>
387 <p>
387 Throughout the assessment process, the professional responsible must identify the impact on the
child of what is happening in the family.
387 </p>
388 <p>
388 A copy of the written record of the assessment must be given to:
388 </p>
389 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha">
390 <li>
390 The young carer;
390 </li>
391 <li>
391 The young carer's parents; and
391 </li>
392 <li>
392 Any person to whom the young carer or a parent requests the authority to give a copy, e.g. the
Young Carers Service.
392 </li>
393 </ol>
394 <p>
394 The support plan should be reviewed at regular intervals as set out in the Assessment of Need.
394 </p>
395 <p>
395 An assessment can be refused if:
395 </p>
396 <ul>
397 <li>
397 The young carer does not appear to have needs for support;
397 </li>
398 <li>
398 The local authority has already carried out an assessment of the young carer's need for support
connected with their care for a particular person and circumstances have not changed.
398 </li>
399 </ul>
400 <p>
400 Where the assessment identifies that the young carer is suffering or likely to suffer significant
harm, multi agency Safeguarding Children Procedures must be followed immediately.
400 </p>
401 <h3 id="transition">
401 4. Transition
401 </h3>
402 <p>
402 Sections 63 - 64 of the Care Act 2014 introduced duties towards young carers making the transition
to adulthood. The Act requires local authorities to seek the agreement of the young carer to
undertake an assessment if they are likely to have needs for support when they reach eighteen, and
if the timing of the assessment offers 'significant benefit'.
402 </p>
403 <p>
403 The timing of any assessment should be discussed with the young carer and their family. Much of
the information necessary to complete a transition assessment may have already been collected as
part of the Young Carer's Needs Assessment.
403 </p>
404 Transition assessments for young carers must also specifically consider whether the carer is able to
care now and whether they are prepared and willing to continue to be a carer after they reach
adulthood at eighteen.
405 <h3 id="further">
405 5. Further Reading
405 </h3>
406 <p>
406 <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/498116/DFE-RB499_T
he_lives_of_young_carers_in_England_brief.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
406 The Lives of Young Carers in England Research Brief (DfE, February 2016)
406 </a>
406 </p>
407 <p>
407 <a
href="https://adcs.org.uk/early-help/article/no-wrong-doors-working-together-to-support-young-care
rs-and-their-families" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
407 No Wrong Doors Working Together to Support Young Carers and their Families – Young Carers' Needs
Assessment Supporting Information (ADCS, 2015)
407 </a>
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