Legislation in England defines a ‘young carer’ as a ‘person under 18 who provides or intends to provide care for another person’. Young carers now have rights to an assessment of their needs – a “young carer’s needs assessment”.
The assessment needs to consider:
- Whether it is appropriate for the young carer to provide, or continue to provide, care.
- The young carer’s needs for support, their other needs and wishes
- If any of the young carer’s needs for support could be prevented by providing services to the person cared for, or another member of the young carer’s family
In addition, ‘a local authority in England must take reasonable steps to identify the extent to which there are young carers within their area who have needs for support.’
For more information see the Children and Families Act 2014, Section 96: young carers 
And: The Young Carers (Needs Assessments) Regulations 2015
The Care Act 2014 supports a ‘whole family approach’ to assessing and supporting adults.
See The Care and Support (Assessment) Regulations 2014
The Care and Support (Eligibility Criteria) Regulations 2014
Care and support statutory guidance
The Care Act Easy to Read Guidance
The Care Act also gives young adult carers a right to an assessment at transition – a “young carer’s assessment”.
For more information see the Care Act 2014 – Section 63. Assessment of a young carer’s needs for support
And: Young carer’s assessment: requirements – Section 64
Legislation & Policy
These are key resources to support local authorities with implementing a whole family approach and the duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Care Act 2014 with regard to young carers and their families.
The ‘Care Act and Whole-Family ....
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This document captures the views expressed by young carers at two separate consultation events held by The Children’s Society and Surrey Young Carers. It builds on the information provided in “Making It Real for Young Carers” and is intended to ....
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