Children’s services must provide information about how the assessment will be carried out, so that those involved can participate effectively. Information about the assessment must be provided to:
- The young carer
- The person cared for
- The young carer’s parents; and
- Any other person whom the young carer or a parent of the young carer requests should participate in the assessment.
Wherever possible, the information about the assessment should be provided before the assessment takes place. It should be given in an easy to follow format. This will help to make sure the young carer can understand.
Children’s services must do the assessment in a way which is fair. It should take into account the needs and circumstances of the young carer. It is likely that the social worker will want to speak to the young carer on their own, as well as speaking to teachers and other adults who know them.
Children’s services should use a ‘whole family’ approach. This means they should look at whether the young carer’s needs could be reduced if additional support were provided to the person being cared for. Or, if care can be provided by someone else in the family other than the young person.
If children’s services are carrying out another assessment, either of the child, or the person being cared for, they may combine the assessments. They can only do this if the young carer and the person being cared for agree. If any assessments are combined, they must still separately identify the needs and wishes of each person who is being assessed.
Who should be involved in a young carers assessment?
The assessment must involve:
- The young carer
- The young carer’s parents and
- Any person who the young carer, or a parent of the young carer, requests should participate in the assessment.