Devon Young Carers Service provides specialist support for young carers who are providing high levels of care, or care that is not age appropriate. They also have a range of resources and can offer specialist advice and signposting to all professionals who have young carers among the children and young people that they work with.
A young carer, or their family, can ask Devon Young Carers Service for help directly. Where consent has been given, another professional or practitioner can make a referral to the service on behalf of a young person and their family. Devon Young Carers Service will then undertake an assessment of the young carer’s needs and the support available to meet their needs.
The support offered aims to help young carers to have the same life opportunities as their peers, feel supported at school or college, have good physical and emotional health, access and achieve their potential in education and training, have their voices heard and be prepared for adulthood and independence.
You can contact Devon Young Carers Service by email to devonyoungcarers@devon.gov.uk.
How is support provided?
The Devon Young Carers Service is a small team that covers all of Devon (apart from Plymouth and Torbay, which have their own young carers services). They are split into four localities: North Devon, Mid and East Devon, Exeter, and South Devon.
Registering a young carer
If you would like your child or a child you work with to be registered as a young carer with Devon Young Carers Service and show on the Young Carers Register, please complete the young carers registration form.
They will be registered at Getting Advice and can access the following from Devon Young Carers:
- Information, Advice, and Signposting.
- Young Carers ID card.
- Young Carers transition assessment before they turn 18.
- Young Carers register shared with education settings.
- Access to Holiday and Food Programme (HAF) as a young carer (please read the extended criteria terms).
Specialist support
If the level of care the young carer provides is high, and impacting on their life, a referral can be made to explore the options of support to reduce the level of care the young carer is providing:
- Young carer’s needs assessment.
- Specialist support for young carers.
- Whole family approach.
- Advocacy.
- Safety planning.
- School support.
- Working alongside professionals working with the family.
- Social opportunities.
- Transition to adulthood assessment.
Our direct support will support young carers:
- who are providing excessive or inappropriate care
- who are the sole carer
- who care for the terminally ill
- where there are safeguarding concerns
- aged six or below with a highly impactful caring role
- who self-identify as providing a high level of care