Approaches to assessments

Assessments can take different forms depending on how the person wants to express their personal views, needs and requirements. Because of the sensitive and complex issues at play, the default assumption should that at least one face-to-face meeting will be required for a transition assessment of a young carer. However, there is no one approach that will always be appropriate, and sometimes a young carer may prefer a telephone or supported self-assessment.

Forms (paper or online) for some people can be off-putting, cause anxiety to those completing them and, if completed incorrectly, take more time to process than if a face-to-face assessment had been arranged. Young carers may find standard adult assessment forms to be written in professional jargon and so be difficult to understand. Barnardo’s Young Carers team in Liverpool has designed a young person friendly form. Although it covers all of the areas detailed in an adult assessment, the young carers assessment form uses a more 'plain English' question format.

It may be possible to offer a mix of approaches where basic information is collected online to support a more targeted face-to-face discussion on an individual’s support needs (either with the person they care for or in a separate meeting if this feels more comfortable for the carer).

Any approach to online assessment should also consider very carefully how to ensure that any default assumptions that caring must continue will be challenged to encourage aspirations about the future.

A young carer may feel more at ease speaking to a single person rather than a roomful of different practitioners, particularly if there is one practitioner who they already trust. Local authorities should consider formally designating a named person to coordinate transition assessment and planning across different agencies. Such a person is often referred to as a ‘key worker’. It will also be important to ensure that any practitioner who has been able to develop a good relationship with the young carer prior to transition is involved in the transition wherever possible, both to help the young carer feel comfortable and to ensure that knowledge about the broader situation is not lost.

A whole-family approach [2] to assessment can help to identify the individual needs, aspirations and goals of each family member as well as collective strengths, resources and mutual desired outcomes. Family assessments are a good opportunity for practitioners to work together to identify the impact of caring on a carer and the support that they would like to receive in the future.

Transition can have a significant effect on other family members and it is important to review how family members’ needs change as a result. Local authorities must assess whether an adult carer’s needs for support might increase, and provide any information, advice or support planning required in relation to any identified needs.

Assessments for the young carer and person cared for can be combined if appropriate and timely. However, where assessments are combined it is important that each individual has a chance to have a private conversation with the assessor in case there are areas they wish to identify and explore separately. A ‘tell us once’ approach to coordinating assessments is less stressful for carers. A designated key worker can be helpful as they can be a single point of contact for the family and help to integrate services.

It is important that local authority assessors check whether any other organisations or services have completed an assessment, for example adult social care and children’s services or the NHS. Local authorities can work with another organisation, such as the NHS, to carry out an assessment if the person agrees to this taking place. Working together will avoid duplication of information, help to coordinate more effective support and develop a plan that works for everyone within the family. Such an approach can be particularly important to those who are moving from children’s to adult services.