When undertaking a Community Care Assessment of a disabled or ill parent, councils must ensure that support is put in place to prevent a young carer undertaking unreasonable caring responsibilities (both physical and emotional).

 

Adults staff aim to supply ‘sufficient services’ to the cared-for adult, so that the young carer’s role is not excessive in the light of their age and their own educational, health and social needs.

 

This should include the young carer having time off from his/her caring role, and plans for situations in which the young carer is unable to be present or provide their usual support.

 

Decisions about how much support is available are subject to eligibility criteria (which also applies to services that may be supplied from the Children’s Department).

 

Young carers may be entitled to services in their own right, under the Children Act 1989. In general it will be more appropriate for a young carer to be assessed under this Act. Many  - but not all - young carers with significant caring responsibilities might be seen as “children in need”, and therefore eligible for Children Act services.

 

Staff from the two Departments (Adults and Housing; Children and Young Persons) aim to work together to agree the best approach, including use of the specialist young carers service (CareFree) that is provided by Barnardo’s.