Support for Young Carers

Young carers have legal rights under several pieces of legislation:

• Children Act 1989 (as amended by the Children and Families Act 2014) — Local authorities have a duty to assess young carers who appear to have need for support. The assessment must consider whether it is appropriate for the young carer to be providing the care they do, given their age and developmental needs;
• Care Act 2014 — As a young carer approaches adulthood, transition provisions apply. A transition assessment must be offered when it is of "significant benefit" — usually at age 16 or earlier for young carers with complex situations;
• Children and Families Act 2014 — Introduced a specific duty to assess young carers and establish a statutory right for young carers to request an assessment.

Young carers are not expected to provide care that is inappropriate for their age. If a young carer is providing excessive care — for example, regular intimate personal care, or care that prevents them from attending school or socialising — this should be identified and addressed in the assessment.

Schools play a crucial role in identifying and supporting young carers. The Department for Education's guidance encourages schools to appoint a Young Carers Lead who can coordinate support for young carers. Schools should:

• Identify young carers through pastoral conversations and registration processes;
• Make reasonable adjustments — for example, allowing a young carer to arrive late if they have morning caring responsibilities, or flexibility around homework deadlines;
• Refer identified young carers to local young carer support services;
• Ensure that exam boards are notified where caring responsibilities have affected attainment, so that appropriate consideration is given.

Young carers often underperform academically because of fatigue, worry, or absence due to their caring role. Early identification and support significantly improves outcomes. If you are a young carer experiencing difficulties at school, speak to a trusted teacher or the school SENCO.

Several organisations specifically support young carers:

• Carers Trust — Runs a network of local young carer services across England providing practical support, respite, and peer groups for young carers;
• Action for Children — Provides young carer services in many local areas;
• The Children's Society — Works with young carers and campaigns for policy improvements;
• Young Carers of Barnardo's — Local services supporting young carers in many areas.

Many local authorities have their own young carer services or commission services from voluntary organisations. A referral can be made by the young carer themselves, a parent, a school, or a GP. Young carer services typically offer support groups, short breaks, and advice for young carers and their families.

Schools play a uniquely important role in identifying and supporting young carers because they are often the first place where the impact of caring responsibilities becomes visible. The Department for Education's statutory guidance for schools on supporting pupils with medical conditions and the Ofsted inspection framework both create incentives for schools to identify and support young carers. Many schools now have a Young Carers Lead — a designated member of staff who co-ordinates support. Young carers should tell their school about their caring role; this enables the school to make reasonable adjustments (such as homework flexibility, a quiet study space, or assistance with applications for bursaries and free school meals) and to refer the young carer to local young carer services.

Young Carers ID cards are a practical tool issued by many local young carer services and some councils. They identify the holder as a young carer and include an emergency contact number so that if the young carer is in an accident or emergency situation, services can immediately make arrangements for the person being cared for at home. Some cards include details of the cared-for person's needs. They can also be shown to teachers, transport providers, and health services to quickly explain the young carer's situation. Apply for a card through your local young carer service or council.

The right to a young carer's assessment exists from the point at which a child appears to have care and support needs arising from their caring role. However, the transition to adult support becomes particularly significant at age 16. From this age, the Care Act 2014 transition provisions begin to apply. A young carer approaching 18 who meets the relevant criteria must be offered a transition assessment by the council to understand how their needs will be met in adult life — both as a carer and in terms of their own wellbeing, education, and employment aspirations. This assessment should happen before the young person's 18th birthday, not after, to ensure continuity of support. Young carers should be proactive about requesting a transition assessment from age 16 onwards, particularly if they are approaching major transitions such as leaving school or starting further education.