Young carer assessment

A young carer's assessment is a way for a young carer to talk about the caring they do at home and get support. An assessment looks at whether it's appropriate for the young carer to care for someone else. It also considers whether they want to be a carer.

We must carry out a young carer's assessment under section 17ZA of the Children Act 1989:

• if we consider that a young carer may have support needs
• if a young carer, or the parent of a young carer, requests one

The Young Carers’ (Needs Assessment) Regulations 2015 require us to look at the needs of the whole family when carrying out a young carer’s needs assessment.

Young carers’ assessments can be combined with assessments of adults in the household, with the agreement of the young carer and adults concerned.

If you're a professional working with someone who may be a young carer

In Sheffield, the Young Carers Needs assessment is a multi-agency tool which any professional can use with a young person.

It is a guided conversation designed to:

• involve the young carer in identifying their own needs and potential solutions
• reduce the caring responsibilities placed on the young carer and negative impacts of their caring
• inform your work with the young carer to achieve this
• clarify whether there are Early Support or Targeted Support needs (see Thresholds of Needs Guidance) and whether you need to signpost or refer to additional support agencies or not

This assessment should be kept by you to inform your own work, but be shared with other agencies to draw in additional support where relevant. Always ensure the young person is informed if the assessment is being shared.

You can contact our Family Intervention Service and we may be able to support you in completing the assessment.

If you're a young carer

As a young carer, an assessment is basically your way to tell an adult you trust about the caring you do at home. The adult who works with you on your assessment might be able to help you with everything you need. However, if they can't, they might know other people who can.

Your assessment can be done by any worker, for example social workers, Family Intervention Workers or someone from school or college.

How to get an assessment

If you have not been offered an assessment and would like one, speak with someone in school or another professional you see often about getting an assessment.

Getting ready for the assessment

When you have your assessment your worker will ask questions about:

• you and your family
• the things you do as a carer
• how you feel about being a carer and how it may be affecting your life

Although we don't expect you to prepare in advance for the assessment, it would help you to think of all the extra things you do as a carer and in particular the amount of time you spend on each of them.

After the assessment

When the assessment is complete, you and your worker will agree a review date, which is your opportunity to meet again and check that you are getting the help you need.

If you are not happy with the support you get after your assessment, you can ask for an advocate to help you with this.

Sheffield Carers Strategy

We have a Carers Strategy and Carers Delivery Plan. These aim to ensure that carers of all ages in our city can say:

1. I have good quality information and advice which is relevant to me and the person I care for.
2. I know what my rights are and how to enforce them.
3. The caring I do is valued and I am listened to.
4. I have breaks from caring, meaning I have a life of my own and time for friends and family.
5. My prospects in life are not affected due to me being a carer. I can access education, employment, and training.
6. I am supported to look after my mental/physical health and wellbeing.