Under 18’s Young Carers Assessment and Transition Assessments

 

If you’re under 18:

If you are under 18 and provide unpaid care for someone (for example, a family member), you have the right to a Young Carer’s Assessment.

Under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 and Section 96 of the Children and Families Act 2014, your local authority has a legal duty to assess all young carers in their area who may need support. This means they must look at how caring affects your life including your education, health, wellbeing, and future goals and decide what help might be needed.

A Young Carer’s Assessment is there to:

• Understand what caring is like for you
• Make sure you’re safe and well
• Check you’re not taking on too much
• Identify support that could make things easier

 

What happens when you turn 18?

When you turn 18, if you continue to provide care, you will move from having a Young Carer’s Assessment to having a Carer’s Assessment.

A Carer’s Assessment is similar in purpose; it still looks at how caring affects your life and what support you might need. The main difference is that it is carried out by adult services within the local authority, by professionals who work with adults rather than children and young people.

This change is sometimes called a transition assessment. It helps make sure you continue to get the right support as you move into adulthood.

 

Carers Assessment for Carers Age 18 and Above

As you get closer to turning 18, life can start to feel very different. You might be finishing school or college, thinking about work or university, or planning your next steps. If you are a carer, your responsibilities might still be the same but the support available to you can change.

The most important thing to remember is:

You have rights at every stage, and support should continue as you grow older.

If you would like support in requesting a carers assessment or would like further information, please contact RCSS at:

Redbridge Carers Support Service

12 Clements Court

Clements Lane

Ilford, Essex

IG1 2QY

Tel: 020 8514 6251

Email:[email protected]

Website: www.rcss.org.uk