How many young carers were assessed through the statutory assessment process via Adults Social care or Children’s Services from October 1st, 2017 to September 30th, 2018. It would be helpful to have this figure split (one figure for Adult Services and one for Children Services)?
Adult Services
From October 2017 to September 2018 – 10 of our adult carers assessment forms have been started for 8 different young carers (aged 18 or under), the age is based the date the form was started.
Children Services
From October 2017 to October 2018 the Young Carers Service commissioned by Devon County Council undertook a young carer assessment for 380 young carers who were new to the service. Young Carers receiving a service will have a review assessment.
The Young Carers Service commissioned by Devon County Council are required to undertake an assessment of children and young people’s needs to determine support and advice. It may be that following this assessment the service initiates an Early Help Response where an Early Help Assessment will be required leading to the service acting as Lead Professional and coordinating a multi-agency Team Around the Family. Where other services or organisations initiate an Early Help Response, and this involves young carers the service will contribute towards the Team Around the Family process that follows. Early Help Assessments Tools are built into Devon’s multi-agency Early Help data system ‘Right for Children’.
Any assessment undertaken by the Local Authority, for example Early Help Assessment or Section 47 Assessment and Enquiry, should consider needs and contexts of families and therefore have the potential to lead to the identification of young carers and their needs. This may also prompt a referral being made to the Young Carers Service with the consent of the young person and their family.