Information for Professionals:

Young Carers
"Young carers are children and young persons under 18 who provide, or intend to provide, care, assistance or support to another family member. They carry out, often on a regular basis, significant or substantial caring tasks and assume a level of responsibility which would usually be associated with an adult. The person receiving care is often a parent but can be a sibling, grandparent or other relative who is disabled, has some chronic illness, mental health problem or other condition connected with a need for care, support or supervision. Factors which influence the extent and nature of young carer's tasks and responsibilities include the illness/disability, family structure, gender, culture, religion, income and the availability and quality of professional support and services."

Becker, S (2000) 'Young Carers', in Davies, M (ed) the Blackwell Encyclopeodia of Social Work, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers Ltd, p 378.

The caring can involve lots of physical care such as personal care for a parent, giving medication, helping someone get up, get dressed or to get around. It could also mean providing emotional support for someone who has a mental health problem or substance addiction. In addition, many young carers are also responsible for looking after younger brothers and sisters and all or most of the household chores.

Young carers are at risk of social isolation and bullying, under achievement, absenteeism from school, and physical and mental ill health.

Information
A useful link which gives information demonstrating the benefits of supporting young carers in a holistic way inclusive of wider family can be found at: Click here

Delivering Every Child Matters for young carers is a document which sets out the barriers for young carers in achieving the ECM outcomes and how support for young carers can help local authorities evidence that they have met Joint Area Review inspection targets. Download this document here

The Practice guidance to the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 states that Local Authorities should have "a protocol, shared between adults and children's services, for identifying and assessing young carers". Download this document here.

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers has a new professional website which provides information and access to knowledge sourced from a nationwide network of carers centres to help you provide the best quality of support to the carers that you work with.

For more information about helpful resources please visit our Useful Links page.

If you would like to refer a young carer or would just like some more information regarding the services we offer please contact:

Bernard Harris                   
Childrens Services Lead
Crossroads Care Cheshire East
Overton House
West Street
Congleton
Cheshire
CW12 1JY

Tel 01260 292850
Fax 01260 292851
Email: ycp@crossroadsce.org.uk

Contact us for more info