Young carers

Who is a young carer?

A young carer is someone under 18 years old who provides (or intends to provide) care for another person, unless they are doing so as paid employment or as voluntary work. This can be caring for a family member or friend of the family. They may be physically or mentally ill, frail or elderly, disabled, or misuse alcohol or drugs.

Who provides support for young carers in Devon?

Devon County Council commissions Devon Carers to provide 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 Carers for help directly. They can also use resources on their website such as the Young Carers Passport, to help them advocate for the young carer for example with school, college, GPs or community and youth work settings. 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 Carers 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 Carers Young Carers service via their website , by telephone on 03456 434 435, or email youngcarers@devoncarers.org.uk.

How is support provided?

The Devon Carers Young Carers Support Service is delivered by locality teams covering North Devon, Exeter, South and West Devon, Mid and East Devon. Depending on the level of support needed, young carers might access the following support options:

Getting advice

Young carers can access information and self-help through a range of sources that is both age appropriate and personalised, as well as a Young Carers ID or a Young Carers passport, which they can use to identify themselves as a young carer and to advocate for their needs as a young carer, for example in school, college, GP or other community settings. This is available without a Young Carers Needs Assessment, as information and resources are available on the Devon Young Carers Service website. Young carers, their families or professionals supporting them can also access advice and signposting for any young carer by contacting Devon Young Carers on youngcarers@devoncarers.org.uk.

There are also opportunities to participate within the Young Carers’ Council co-ordinated by Devon Carers.

Getting help

Young carers with greater support needs due to the impact of the caring role being undertaken can be supported through trips and activities, support groups and mentoring and buddying opportunities.

This will help young carers to have a break from caring roles and responsibilities, improve health and wellbeing and help achieve the best outcomes, at school for instance.

In order to access this service Young Carers would have a Young Carers Needs Assessment, and be identified as requiring additional support in this area. If you or your child, or a child you work with, may need a Young Carers Needs Assessment due to high support needs as a result of their caring role please contact youngcarers@devoncarers.org.uk for advice.

Getting more help

Support for young carers with the most complex needs, for whom their caring role is having a profound impact on them and their life is likely to include multi-agency support being co-ordinated through an Early Help Support Plan for the young carer and their families. This will help to ensure the right help is being received at the right time.

Young carers who are assessed to be in greatest need will be offered one-to-one support from the Young Carers service. Support will be specific to each young carer and tailored to their individual needs.

In order to access this service young carers would have a Young Carers Needs Assessment, and be identified as requiring additional support in this area. If you or your child, or a child you work with, may need a Young Carers Needs Assessment due to high support needs as a result of their caring role please contact youngcarers@devoncarers.org.uk for advice.

Young carers can also be supported by Devon Young Carers service to help them prepare for adulthood and to manage periods of change or transition in their lives for instance when moving from primary to secondary school for instance or where it is likely they will continue with caring roles and responsibilities from 18 years onwards.