Overview
Early identification, needs assessment and ongoing support for young carers is significantly important for their welfare and outcomes and this is a legal right for all young carers. We all must work together to ensure that young carers are actively supported for their safety, wellbeing and right to receive an effective education.
What is a young carer?
A child or young person under the age of 18 who provides or intends to provide care for another person
The Children and Families Act 2014
This definition covers young people under 18 who are looking after or helping to look after a parent, guardian, grandparent or sibling who has a mental or physical illness, addiction or disability.
What care might include:
For those in governance there is a need to ensure that children and young people in our schools and settings with recognised or unrecognised caring responsibilities are identified, heard, assessed and supported.
“At school I’m 3 years behind I feel like I’m not getting the right amount of support with my work. I’m really scared of going to secondary school because I feel like I’m not going to get the support” – Girl, 11, young carer.
Children’s Commissioner
Essential reading, key guidance and helpful websites
Young Carers – rights and the law
On 1 April 2015, two new pieces of legislation come into force, giving new rights to care and support for young carers, young adult carers, and their families. The Children and Families Act 2014 and the Care Act 2014. The new legislation gave new rights to young carers to receive support and care.
Local authorities have a legal obligation to reduce excessive or inappropriate caring responsibilities
Children should not undertake inappropriate or excessive caring roles that may have an impact on their development. A young carer becomes vulnerable when their caring role risks impacting upon their emotional or physical wellbeing and their prospects in education and life. Where a young carer is identified, the local authority must undertake a young carer’s assessment under part 3 of the Children Act 1989.
Young carer’s needs assessment
Young carers have legal rights to assessments and support. A Young Carers Needs Assessment under s17ZA of the Children Act 1989 is designed to ensure that young carers are not taking on inappropriate or excessive caring responsibilities. They are available to any young carer who requests one, no matter who they care for or how much care they provide.
Transitions assessment
Young carers have the right to a transitions assessment under the Care Act 2014 if they are likely to need support as they transition into adulthood.
Young Carers Matter (Norfolk) make a referral (for professionals).
“Going to school sometimes can be a bit overwhelming particularly if you have had to deal with quite a lot at home then having to go to school and be on your top game […] I can try my best to explain to them what I’m going through but ultimately, they’re never going to fully be able to relate to me” – Girl, 12, Young Carer.
Children’s Commissioner
The Young Carers Challenge in Norfolk
We want all schools to sign up to the Young Carers Challenge
To help ensure that every young carer in the county is identified at the earliest opportunity and linked into available support, Caring Together, Norfolk County Council and Young Carers Matter Norfolk, with the support of organisations across the county, have set a challenge that by the end of the 2022-23 academic year, every Norfolk school will:
- Have a Young Carers Champion so that every young carer has a trusted adult in school they can go to if things are difficult, or they need more support.
- Have a young carers agreement / policy (ideally designed with young carers) so that every young carer in Norfolk knows what support is available to them in their school and locally.
- Ensure young carers are correctly identified in their school pupil management systems, so they are picked up in the census return. Monitor indicators such as attendance and attainment using the young carer flag.
NGN is championing and raising awareness of Norfolk’s Young Carers, we want all schools to sign up to the Young Carers Challenge, we need your support to ensure each child and young person is supported in our schools and settings.
What can governors do?
At NGN we understand the importance of governance to support all young carers in Norfolk. Our colleagues at Young Carers Alliance and Caring Together would like governors to do the following:
- Ensure that the school has a member of staff as young carers champion and that this person is given the necessary time to do the role
- Make sure the school has a school-wide young carers policy, setting out what support is available to young carers within the school. This policy should ideally be designed with young carers in the school and should be regularly reviewed
- Appoint a member of the Governing body as a young carers champion
- Ask your school leadership team to provide regular updates on key metrics relating to young carers (e.g. attendance and attainment), alongside other groups of potentially vulnerable pupils.
NGN will continue to work on building best practice for governors and trustees in Norfolk and working with our colleagues across Norfolk.
Young Carers at NGN’s Governance Conversation
In November 2022, we welcomed Belinda Jones to our Governance Conversation, you can watch the event and find out more on our event page SEND, Safeguarding, Attendance and Young Carers. Presentation slides from the event are below.
Young-Carers-Caring-Together-NGN-Governance-ConversationFinal word
Those in governance have an important role in supporting young carers in Norfolk, appointing a governor as a young carer champion, ensuring that our schools sign up to the Young Carers Challenge and that we include young carers in our meetings and monitoring. The final word as always belongs to the children and young people themselves.
“So many young carers feel unseen and unheard at school. I believe that having a Young Carer Champion, a teacher each young carer knows is in their corner would increase their confidence and wellbeing hugely.”
Children’s Commissioner
