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136 <h1>
136 Young Carers
136 </h1>
141 <div class="well">
142 <p class="bold">
142 SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
143 </p>
144 <p>
144 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.
145 </p>
146 <span class="bold">
146 RELATED GUIDANCE
146 </span>
147 <p>
147 <a
href="http://www.carersuk.org/files/section/4630/factsheet-e1029--assessments-and-the-care-a
ct-after-april-2015.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
147 Assessments and the Care Act
147 </a>
147 </p>
148 <p>
148 <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/527/pdfs/uksi_20150527_en.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">
148 The Young Carers (Needs Assessment) Regulations (DOE, March 2015)
148 </a>
148 </p>
149 <p>
149 <a
href="https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/practical-support/getting-care-and-support/yo
ung-carers-and-carers-of-children-under-18?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIytqVmff-6AIVibPtCh2rvACWEAAYAiA
AEgKhlvD_BwE#sec0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
149 Carers UK
149 </a>
149 - resources and information on young carers (including assessment tools)
149 </p>
150 <p class="bold">
150 LOCAL INFORMATION
150 </p>
151 <p class="bold">
151 Who to contact
151 </p>
152 <p>
152 <a
href="https://www.mylifewarrington.co.uk/kb5/warrington/directory/service.page?id=GngJMcCMfJ
4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
152 Wired Young Carers Service
152 </a>
152 </p>
153 <p>
153 Telephone: 01925 633492
153 <br>
154 Freephone: 0800 731 6941
154 </p>
155 </div>
162 <div class="section">
162 <h2 id="definition">
162 1. Background and Definition
162 </h2>
163 <p>
163 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.
163 </p>
164 <p>
164 Under the Children and Families Act 2014, a young carer is defined as:
164 </p>
165 <p class="italic">
165 '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'.
165 </p>
166 <p>
166 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.
166 </p>
167 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 them to be regarded as a young carer.
167 </div>
168 <div class="section1">
168 </div>
174 <div class="section">
174 <h2 id="recognition">
174 2. Identifying Young Carers
174 </h2>
175 <p>
175 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.
175 </p>
176 <p>
176 The duty to assess applies where there is an appearance of need i.e. there does not have to
be a specific 'request'.
176 </p>
177 <p>
177 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.
177 </p>
178 <p>
178 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.
178 </p>
179 Schools also have a vital role to play in identifying and supporting young people who are
helping to care for family members.
179 </div>
180 <div class="section1">
180 </div>
186 <div class="section">
186 <h2 id="response">
186 3. Assessing Need and Providing Support
186 </h2>
187 <p>
187 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.
187 </p>
188 <p>
188 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.
188 </p>
189 <p>
189 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.
189 </p>
190 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:
191 <ul>
192 <li>
192 Appropriately trained;
192 </li>
193 <li>
193 Have sufficient knowledge and skill to be able to carry out the assessment; and
193 </li>
194 <li>
194 Be an appropriate person to carry out the assessment having regard to the young carer's
circumstances, in particular the young carer's age, gender and understanding.
194 </li>
195 </ul>
196 <p>
196 Ideally assessments should be carried out promptly following identification or disclosure of
a young person's caring responsibilities.
196 </p>
197 In carrying out the assessment, the local authority must, in particular, have regard to:
198 <ul>
199 <li>
199 The young carer's age, understanding and family circumstances;
199 </li>
200 <li>
200 The wishes, feelings and preferences of the young carer;
200 </li>
201 <li>
201 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
201 </li>
202 <li>
202 The outcomes the young carer seeks from the assessment.
202 </li>
203 </ul>
204 <p>
204 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:
204 </p>
205 <ul>
206 <li>
206 The young carer;
206 </li>
207 <li>
207 The person cared for;
207 </li>
208 <li>
208 The young carer's parents; and
208 </li>
209 <li>
209 Any other person whom the young carer or a parent of the young carer requests should
participate in the assessment.
209 </li>
210 </ul>
211 <p>
211 ('Parent' includes:
211 </p>
212 <ul>
213 <li>
213 A parent of the young carer who does not have parental responsibility; and
213 </li>
214 <li>
214 A person who is not a parent, but has parental responsibility.)
214 </li>
215 </ul>
216 <p>
216 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.
216 </p>
217 <p>
217 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.
217 </p>
218 <p>
218 The assessment must consider the following:
218 </p>
219 <ul>
220 <li>
220 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;
220 </li>
221 <li>
221 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, gender, wishes and feelings. Inappropriate tasks could
include:
222 <ul>
223 <li>
223 Personal care such as bathing and toileting;
223 </li>
224 <li>
224 Strenuous physical tasks such as lifting;
224 </li>
225 <li>
225 Administering medication;
225 </li>
226 <li>
226 Maintaining the family budget;
226 </li>
227 <li>
227 Offering precociously mature, emotional support to the adult.
227 </li>
228 </ul>
229 </li>
230 <li>
230 How parental health impacts on their capacity to meet the child's needs;
230 </li>
231 <li>
231 Whether any of the young carer's needs for support could be prevented by providing
services to:
232 <ul>
233 <li>
233 The person cared for; or
233 </li>
234 <li>
234 Another member of the young carer's family.
234 </li>
235 </ul>
236 </li>
237 <li>
237 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;
237 </li>
238 <li>
238 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);
238 </li>
239 <li>
239 Whether the young carer is a child in need;
239 </li>
240 <li>
240 Any actions to be taken as a result of the assessment; and
240 </li>
241 <li>
241 The arrangements for a future review.
241 </li>
242 </ul>
243 <p>
243 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:
243 </p>
244 <ul>
245 <li>
245 Whether the young person's caring role limits their educational opportunities, perhaps
because it means they have more absences from school; or
245 </li>
246 <li>
246 Whether caring prevents the child from building relationships and friendships; or
246 </li>
247 <li>
247 How caring affects the child's physical and emotional wellbeing.
247 </li>
248 </ul>
249 <p>
249 Throughout the assessment process, the professional responsible must identify the impact on
the child of what is happening in the family.
249 </p>
250 <p>
250 A copy of the written record of the assessment must be given to:
250 </p>
251 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha">
252 <li>
252 The young carer;
252 </li>
253 <li>
253 The young carer's parents; and
253 </li>
254 <li>
254 Any person to whom the young carer or a parent requests the authority to give a copy, e.g.
the Young Carers Service.
254 </li>
255 </ol>
256 <p>
256 The support plan should be reviewed at regular intervals as set out in the Assessment of
Need.
256 </p>
257 <p>
257 An assessment can be refused if:
257 </p>
258 <ul>
259 <li>
259 The young carer does not appear to have needs for support;
259 </li>
260 <li>
260 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.
260 </li>
261 </ul>
262 <p>
262 Where the assessment identifies that the young carer is suffering or likely to suffer
significant harm,
262 <a href="https://www.proceduresonline.com/pancheshire/warrington/index.html"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">
262 Warrington Safeguarding Partnership Procedures
262 </a>
262 must be followed immediately.
262 </p>
263 </div>
264 <div class="section1">
264 </div>
270 <div class="section">
270 <h2 id="tntroduction">
270 4. Transition
270 </h2>
271 <p>
271 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'.
271 </p>
272 <p>
272 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.
272 </p>
273 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.
273 </div>
274 <div class="section1">
274 </div>
280 <div class="section">
280 <h2 id="reading">
280 5. Further Reading
280 </h2>
281 <p>
281 <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/498116/DFE-R
B499_The_lives_of_young_carers_in_England_brief.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
281 The Lives of Young Carers in England Research Brief (DfE, 2016)
281 </a>
281 </p>
282 <p>
282 <a
href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_
data/file/582575/Lives_of_young_carers_in_England_Omnibus_research_report.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">
282 The Lives of Young Carers in England - Research Report Survey with Young Carers (DfE,
2017)
282 </a>
282 </p>
283 <p>
283 <a
href="https://adcs.org.uk/early-help/article/no-wrong-doors-working-together-to-support-youn
g-carers-and-their-families" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
283 No Wrong Doors Working Together to Support Young Carers and their Families – Young
Carers' Needs Assessment Supporting Information (ADCS, 2015)
283 </a>
283 </p>
284 </div>
285 <div class="section1">
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339 <script type="text/javascript">
347 </script>
350 </body>
351 </html>