Young Carer

What is a young carer?

A young carer is a person under 18 years old who regularly cares for a family member with:

a physical disability
mental health problem
drug or alcohol problem

Their day-to-day responsibilities might include:

cooking
cleaning
nursing
personal care
shopping
childcare for siblings
giving emotional support to the adult they care for

Children are often very happy to help their parent or family member and it can be very positive. However, children also have the right to be looked after, and to have their own time to play, develop and learn.

We aim to reduce the most negative effects that some young carers experience. We recognise that those young carers who are well adapted to their caring role may also benefit from support and time out.

Caring (whether young or old) can carry a cost in terms of:

emotional stress
financial pressure
damaging relationships
experiencing social isolation

We may carry out a Referral if the level of care giving and responsibility to the person in need of care significantly affects the young person in any way.

What can we provide?

An assessment of the young person’s needs in relation to the care they provide:

help to find the right support for the young carer and their family
group activities and opportunities to have a break from caring
Support to make new friendships and relationships
transitional planning and education advice for parents about what moving from children’s service to adult care support involves
monetary benefits for the young person and their family
support in moving from school into work
supported Housing
we work with schools, colleges and other agencies to raise awareness about young people and young carers, including how to identify and support them effectively.

Meeting a new team

Preparing for adulthood will mean a young person may start seeing a different team. This may cause anxiety for a young person as the teams they know and are used to working with, change. Therefore, it is important everyone involved understands the process, and feels supported and prepared to try to ensure that changes are as smooth as possible. There should be a detailed exchange of information between the teams.

What is a young carer? Video created by a young carer.