Supporting Young Carers
A young carer is someone under the age of 18 who helps look after, or whose life is affected by, a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem. The school census in 2023 suggested that there were 39,000 known young carers in the country, whilst the 2021 ONS census reported there are around 120,000 young carers aged 5-18 in England. This indicates there are significant numbers of young people who have caring responsibilities, and it is important that they get the support that they need.
Who are Young Carers?
A young carer is someone under 18 who cares for a friend or family member who, due to illness, disability, mental health challenges, or an addition, cannot cope without their support. Older young carers are known as adult carers and they may have different support needs to younger carers.
Their caring role can cover:
- Sibling care – looking after brothers and sisters
- Communication – helping someone communicate with others
- Practical tasks – this can be helping with cooking, cleaning, and other tasks like shopping
- Physical care -helping someone move around or get out of bed
- Helping someone take medication or collecting prescriptions
- Emotional support – helping or talking to someone who may be feeling distressed of down
- Personal care – helping someone get dressed or washed
Devon Young Carers are commissioned by Devon County Council to provide specialist support for Young Carers who are providing excessive or inappropriate care, are a sole carer, caring for someone terminally ill, or if there are safeguarding concerns around the caring role, are aged 6 or below with a highly impactful caring role, or Young Carers who self-identify as providing a high level of care. They also hold the Young Carers register for Devon County Council.
Devon Young Carers provide specialist advice and signposting for all professionals working with Young Carers, this could be how to identify Young Carers, supporting them in schools, working towards the Young Carers in Schools Award (YCiS), or setting up a Young Carers group.
You can register a Young Carer with Devon Young Carers by completing this form: https://webforms.dizions.co.uk/devon_carers/young-carers-registration. They will be registered at Getting Advice and can access:
- Information, advice, and signposting for their caring role https://www.westbank.org.uk/resources-for-young-carers
- Young Carers ID card
- YC Passport https://www.westbank.org.uk/young-carers-passport
- Young Carers transition assessment before they turn 18
- The Holiday Activities and Food Progamme (HAF) Information for parents and carers – Education and Families
To assess eligibility for further specialist support, please look at the Devon Young Carers toolkit which outlines next steps. You can find this information here: My
Young Carer Life Toolkit | Westbank.
Devon Young Carers also have a school worker in an advisory role, covering the whole county.
Schools can get in touch and request support and guidance on how best to support young carers in their school, and information and advice can be given on how to achieve the Young Carers in Schools (YCIS) Award.
At request, Devon Young Carers can provide a list of young carers who are registered or awaiting an assessment and what level of support they receive from our service. They also send out transition communication to every year 6 and year 11 young carer registered with Devon Young Carers towards the end of the school year to find out about the new education setting and liaise with the setting to make them aware of new, incoming carers so they can continue support in this key time.
The Young Carers in Schools Award allows schools to gain recognition from leading charities for their good practice and ability to meet the needs of young carers. You can find out more about this award here.
How to support young carers in school
1. Young Carers Champion
A Young Carers champion increases support for and visibility of young carers in school. It is recommended that there is also a member of SLT overseeing this champion role as this promotes a whole school approach. It’s important that all staff, pupils, and families are aware of who the Young Carers champion is and who they can speak to for support and guidance.
2. Young Carers Policy
A policy is the best way to show your regular commitment to supporting young carers in school. This should include a commitment to staff training, pupil assemblies and PSHE lessons, and seeking the views of young carers regarding the young carer provision. This policy should be signed off by an SLT member of staff.
3. Young Carers Club/Support Group
A young carers club is a great way to allow young carers to feel heard and supported. It gives them a chance to mix with other young carers in similar situations to themselves. We recommend to keep the group open so that children are able drop in and self-identify as young carers.
4. Awareness raising
Staff training: It is important to offer staff training so there is a whole school approach, and all staff know who the identified young carers are in school and also have the knowledge to recognise and identify hidden young carers. Staff must understand the issues that young carers may face in education and who is the lead contact within school.
PSHE Lessons: PSHE lessons are a great opportunity to help raise awareness of young carers, what may be involved, and how they may be affected. This is also an opportunity to highlight who the young carers champion is within school.
5. Notice board
A staff notice board and pupil notice board can be helpful. This could include a picture of the young carers lead/champion. The noticeboard can also include internal support for young carers such as the club and its timings. On the staff board you could also include information of who the young carers are, and the support that can be given. You can also include signposting to external support.
6. Monitoring
Young carers should be monitored on the school’s system. By doing so you will be able to keep an eye on the attainment and attendance of young carers and give additional support to the pupil or family when needed.
7. Enrolment and Transitions
Include within your enrolment and transition form whether there is a disability within the home and a section for young carers. If pupils transition to another school or college, inform the new school they are a young carer and what support is currently in place.
8. Inform Governors
Discuss young carers at your governors meeting. How are the school supporting the children who are young carers? Be sure to highlight and celebrate the things you do for young carers in school.
9. Mailing list for additional information
Sign up to the Carers Trust mailing list who send out regular newsletters of fabulous ideas, current legislations, new data and statistics, young carers awareness training and much more.
10. Be sure to have fun!
Young carers are an incredible group of young people who have a lot of resilience and would benefit greatly from the time to just talk, feel heard, be understood, and know where to get support if needed.