Working with Young Carers
Young carers are children who look after someone in their family who has an illness, a disability, a mental health problem or a substance misuse problem, taking on practical and/or emotional caring responsibilities that would normally be expected of an adult.
Policy and planning
Professionals who have responsibility for planning and developing services for young carers in their local area can access specialist advice and information in this section.
Assessments
Assessments should take the whole family’s needs into consideration to most effectively support young carers. Access government guidance here and find out more about assessing young carers.
Education
Supports education professionals to understand, identify and support young carers (and their families) through their education. Primarily for schools, although much of the material is useful to FE and HE establishments.
Health
Young carers often lack key information about the health conditions of family members that they are caring for and many also experience their own health problems as a result of their caring responsibilities.
Social exclusion
The move into adulthood for young carers can be disadvantaged by lack of qualifications, limited social skills and a continuing caring role. This section focuses on the needs of young carers in transition and on substance misuse problems.
Voluntary sector
Those working in the voluntary sector who have contact with young carers or their family members can find useful information and guidance in this section on how to support them and their families.
Practice examples
Supporting young carers and their families
Practice examples
The Young Carers Grant Programme 2013
Young Carers Grant programme 2013 open to any Third Sector organisation.
The Young Carers Grant Programme 2013
Primary school toolkit
Identify & support young carers: teachers toolkit
Primary school toolkit
Schools Resource
Supporting Young Carers: A resource for schools
Schools Resource
Young Carers
Under 19? Visit our young carers site for support and advice.
Young Carers
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