Young carers

Who are Young Carers?

A young carer is a person under the age of 18 years who provides care for another person, most commonly a parent or brother or sister, because that person has an illness or disability, mental health problem or problems with addiction to alcohol or drugs.

The 2001 Census showed that there are 3,300 young carers in Hampshire and many may feel alone or isolated and unable to talk to anyone about their situation. Talking to another young person can often help.

There is lots of information to help young carers. Hampshire has many projects and support groups. To find out about projects in your area please look at the 'project' section under  'H' and 'Hampshire' in the 'Young Carers Initiative' website (part of the Children's Society):

Young Carers Initiative - Projects

Many families where someone is disabled or ill will be worried that contact with the authorities might lead to interference, or worse still, being told what they can and cannot do. You should have nothing to fear, both health and social services are there to help you as a family and to do everything they can to support you.

Assessments

As a young person providing care to someone you love, you are entitled to have an assessment yourself to see whether any help can be given to you as a carer. As caring may be shared in a family, it is the right of any one of those carers to request their own assessment under the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995 and the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000. This includes you as a young carer.

An assessment may sound scary but if a social worker or health visitor or other professional visits your home to see the person you care for, talk to them first and tell them you would like an assessment of your own needs. They will then speak to the right people and arrange for an assessment to happen. You can take a friend or other family member or adult with you for moral support if you wish.

As a young carer you should always have your views taken into consideration when someone assesses the needs of the person you care for. HantsFish has further information about the Common Assessment Framework (CAF)

If there are no professionals coming into your home, you can visit your local Children's Services department and ask to have an assessment as a Young Carer.(These addresses are on the Adult Services website whilst restructuring takes place.)