Process map and suggestions on how to put the stages into action

Process map to reflect on:

Examples of ways to identify young carers

• Hold regular events in schools and colleges.
• Hold regular events in communities.
• Liaise with GP surgeries, clinics and hospitals as appropriate.
• Consider universal services (housing, employment centres).
• Identify young carers on admission to school.
• Appoint young carer champions.
• Check that the referral and assessment process complies with the Care Act 2014. For example, does the adult assessment form include a question about who is providing care?

Features of a transition assessment

• What the person’s current needs for support are and how these are affecting their wellbeing.
• Whether the person is likely to have needs post-18.
• Which needs are eligible for support.
• What the person wants to achieve in their day-to-day life and how care and support could contribute to this.
• Information and advice on adult social care.

Timing of assessments

A young carer’s age (14-17) would be a trigger as well as changes in their needs and in a number of factors at home.

For an example of an assessment/planning tool for young carers, see: My Life Now – Individual Assessment and Planning Tool for Young Carers’.

What might an effective plan look like?

• Identify some outcomes.
• Have a way of monitoring whether the outcomes are being achieved.
• Establish whether the person is being supported to be as independent as possible.

When young carers no longer have a caring role after they turn 18

The following is a list of the types of information that young carers who do not have a caring role after they turn 18 may need:

• social care services that will be withdrawn
• employment – volunteering to build up work experience, writing a CV, interview skills, careers advice, self-employment and so on
• education – learning new skills, additional qualifications, colleges, careers advice, funding options
• health, health checks, keep-fit classes
• leisure and social activities
• avoiding loneliness, keeping busy
• benefits
• housing
• social care for non-carer-related needs (as appropriate)
• living without any tool or equipment that they had used as a carer (e.g. telecare equipment), and anything else that will be withdrawn
• support services
• how to contact social care should they become a carer again.