Caring for a child or young person with a disability
If someone is looking after a disabled child or young adult with disability, and have parental responsibility for them, they may benefit from having extra support.
Carer’s Assessment
A Carer's Assessment is for someone who provides care and support. This can be to a disabled child or disabled young adult.
For carers of children with a disability, a carers assessment can be combined with one for the disabled child in order to see if any additional support is required, and if their own needs are being met.
A separate carers assessment can also be requested, especially when the cared for person is approaching the age of transitioning from children to adults, or has turned 18 years of age. If parent is caring for a young adult with a disability they can request a carers assessment from Adults Social Care, or the Children and Young People’s Disability service CYPDS) if the cared for person has had support from CYPDS as a child.
Young carers
Who young carers are
Children and young people under 18 who have caring responsibilities, like providing regular and ongoing care and emotional support to a family member who is physically or mentally ill, disabled or misuses substances.
This term does not apply to the everyday and occasional help around the home that may often be expected of or given by children in families.
What rights young carers have
Children aged under 18 who are providing care have rights to be assessed for care and support. The Children and Families Act gives carers under the age of 18 the right to an assessment on the appearance of need, they do not have to request one.
The Care Act gives young carers the right to an assessment as they approach 18 years of age. It is called a Young Carers Assessment.
Assessment process for a young carer
The assessment must look at whether or not the young carer wishes to continue caring, and whether it is appropriate for them to continue caring. When doing this they have to take into account any education, training, work or recreational activities the young carer is or wishes to participate in.
Where a young carer’s eligible needs are identified as requiring support, local councils will have to:
- provide support directly to the young carer or
- demonstrate that the ‘cared for person’s’ assessment has provided adequate care and support to prevent inappropriate care being required from the young carer
More support
Family Action Islington and Camden Young Carers Service, offer:
- information and advice to parents, young people and professional
- work with the whole family to look at ways of supporting the young carer and the person who needs care.
To find out more, you can call them on 020 7272 6933.
Camden Carers Service Provides help, support and assistance for young carers aged 18-25 years. To find out more you can visit their website or call them on 020 7428 8950.