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Understand what a young carer is and the possible indicators for CYP who may be young carers. Please be mindful that the presence of these indicators does not always mean that the CYP is a young carer but may mean further support is needed.

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A collection of FAQs around young carers from school colleagues, with guidance provided by Caring Together and NCC inclusion advisers.

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Access step-by-step guidance on how to respond when a young carer is identified, including editable resources and further links.

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What young carers would like you to know...

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What young carers would like you to know...

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Some top tips for school staff from young carers themselves!

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A young carer is someone under the age of 18 who helps to care for a family member, relative or friend. A young person aged 16-25 with caring responsibilities can be known as a young adult carer.

What do young carers do?

As a young carer you might support someone who has a disability, a long-term illness, or a problem with alcohol or drugs. Without this help, they would struggle or not be able to cope. Young carers often do a lot of helpful things, such as:

Cook and prepare meals

Help with the shopping

Clean around the house

Manage medicines or money

Give personal care

Help their special person move and get out of the house

Look after their siblings

Give emotional support

Keep an eye on things generally

If young carer families start to struggle financially, young carers also often take on work in addition to their caring responsibilities.

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Impact of being a young carer

Being a young carer can make young people feel good about themselves and proud of the useful skills they learn. However, many young carers don't see themselves as carers and miss out on getting the help and support they often so desperately need and deserve.

Young carers take on caring responsibilities not just occasionally but as part of their everyday lives, often over a long period of time, meaning they also often miss out on opportunities that other children have to play, learn and be young.

Many struggle educationally with being able to focus on school whilst overwhelmed by other worries or can be bullied for being 'different'. They can become isolated, with no relief from the pressures at home, with 1 in 3 young carers saying that caring makes them feel stressed.

If you're a young carer who is struggling, remember it's perfectly okay to ask for support when you need it.

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How we support young people who care for someone who is ill or disabled in their family. Read more about what we do.

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Checklist -  Responding to identifying a young carer

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Checklist -  Responding to identifying a young carer

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Complete this short checklist to identify your immediate actions following identification of a young carer.

If you would like some talk to a member of our inclusion team for additional support and guidance, please email us on inclusionandsend@norfolk.gov.uk. .

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Where can I signpost our families to for further support?

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Where can I signpost our families to for further support?

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Young Carers Matter Norfolk offers support to young carers and their families.

Young Carers & Families Support Service | Voluntary Norfolk This service aims supports young carers, the person they are caring for and other family members in an innovative ‘whole family’ approach.

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I'm not sure if the referral for further support will be accepted. Should I put a referral in?

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I'm not sure if the referral for further support will be accepted. Should I put a referral in?

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We would always advise you put a referral in to Carers Matter so they can assess the case on an individual basis and help the CYP get the support they need.

If you are still unsure, you could contact Carers Matter to discuss the referral first:

https://www.youngcarersmatternorfolk.org/  0800 083 1148

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Where can I signpost our CYP to for further support?

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Where can I signpost our CYP to for further support?

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Young Carers Matter Norfolk offers support to young carers and their families.

Young Carers support app Online Advice For The Young Carers App | Carers Matter Norfolk (youngcarersmatternorfolk.org)

The Children's Society provides support for young carers around school work School | The Children's Society (childrenssociety.org.uk)

Kooth provides anonymous and personalised emotional and mental health support for children and young people aged between 11 and 24.

Sense run an online project focused on connecting siblings and young carers to develop meaningful friendships, providing opportunities to try new and fun activities, giving CYP respite from caring responsibilities and supporting their wellbeing

The Matthew Project Affected Others service is a specialist drugs and alcohol service for CYP and their families.

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What about those CYP caring for people with more ‘hidden’ needs? Do I need to do anything differently?

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What about those CYP caring for people with more ‘hidden’ needs? Do I need to do anything differently?

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Some young carers are more likely to be identified than others…Some CYP have been caring for many years so may not appreciate that they are a young carer and others may be caring for those with less visible or ‘hidden’ needs.

Ensure you are mindful of young carers who are caring for those with less visible or ‘hidden’ needs and not just ones where there are visible, physical support needs. Otherwise you risk missing young carers of:

-        Family members who are struggling with mental health needs

-        Family members who are struggling with substance abuse or alcohol dependency

-        Siblings with a learning disability

-        Family members who have developed support needs because of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and other forms of abuse/violence

Action for Carers have developed some key questions to support with those young carers who are not as easy to identify which you can find here.

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I am worried about starting a conversation with one of my CYP about whether they are a young carer. What can I do?

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I am worried about starting a conversation with one of my CYP about whether they are a young carer. What can I do?

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It may feel difficult to start a conversation with a CYP about whether they are a young carer or about the challenges they are facing. This may be compounded by certain barriers to CYP accepting support such as worries about perceived stigma. Please see guidance here from NSPCC about having difficult conversations with children.

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What if a transition is coming up? Do I need to do anything differently?

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What if a transition is coming up? Do I need to do anything differently?

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Look ahead! Your young carers are likely to need additional support through transitions.

-        As CYP grow, the expectations on them as carers can increase and transitions can be particularly difficult times for young carers – there are new challenges and different structures / expectations to get used to as well as changes in social interactions with peers and teachers.

-        The school or setting the young carer is transitioning to will need to be supported to understand their caring responsibilities and what this means for them in relation to attendance, learning support and wider pastoral needs.

-        Ways to support young carers through transitions include:

Additional visits to new school or setting

Finding ways for the young carer to share information about who they are e.g. use of ‘All About Me’ passports

Meet the Young Carers champion and other young carers already at the school or setting

Practise the journey to the new school or setting

Make sure they have all the equipment they need e.g. uniform, pencil case, etc

Follow up check in during autumn term

Caring Together have produced a Transition Booklet for year 6s which can be accessed here.

Carers Trust provide practical tips, guidance and case studies to help staff in further education college settings and higher education to establish and embed support for young carers and young adult carers.

Launching next year, the My Transition Assessment Plan will be accessible to support young carers through transitions through secondary school onto further and higher education. If you would like to find out more about this, please contact Carers Matter.

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What if the CYP needs an emergency plan? 

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What if the CYP needs an emergency plan? 

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An emergency plan outlines steps to take if the cared for family member’s health deteriorates rapidly.

-        Schools and settings can put together an individual emergency plan for their young carers (this is the case if the CYP has had a young carers assessment or not). The plan is a useful way of setting out clear guidance for the young carer around what to do if certain situations occur.

-        Planning ahead can help young carers and their families manage unexpected changes, such as if the cared-for person’s health deteriorates, or if the young carer themselves is unwell and unable to provide care. Emergency plans help the family be prepared and know what to do and, if necessary, who to ask for help. The plan works best if it involves everyone who would normally support the CYP.

-        An Emergency Plan template can be downloaded from the resources page of the Young Carers Matter Norfolk website.

-        To get help writing an Emergency Plan, get in touch with Carers Matter using their Quick Enquiry Form or call them on 0800 083 1148 (telephone lines are open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and all calls are free).

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What if the family do not give consent for you to refer their child for further support?

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What if the family do not give consent for you to refer their child for further support?

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It’s always tricky when a family do not give consent for a young carers needs assessment. However, depending on the CYP’s age, they can refer themselves in for a needs assessment.

Even if the family do not give consent for a referral, you can still recognise and support the CYP as a young carer whilst they are in school. It is not ideal but still important that the CYP feels recognised and supported.

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Use this model support plan to help you confidently continue to support children and young people.

If you require any support, please call 0333 313 7165 to get in touch with one of our advisers. This phone line is open on weekdays, from 9am to 5pm.

If your query relates to training, please email sendandinclusiontraining@norfolk.gov.uk

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Key indicators that a CYP may be a young carer:

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Key indicators that a CYP may be a young carer:

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Often late, or absent with little explanation

Falling behind in their learning, handing in homework late or incomplete

Stopping participating in youth groups, clubs or sporting activities without explanation

Often tired, anxious, withdrawn or worried

Secretive about home life

Showing signs of poor hygiene or diet

Displaying behaviours that challenge

Referring to a family member as frequently being unwell

Talking openly about family health issues often with more knowledge than might be expected from a CYP of their age and stage e.g. around medication or hospitalisation

Becoming uncomfortable when learning about various health topics

Young carers may also be identified through the circumstances and behaviours of their family members:

Family members experiencing illness, disability, mental health needs or who have a history of substance misuse

Families often missing appointments with school/other professionals

Families who may present with barriers to communication e.g. frequently do not respond to calls / emails. N.B. This can be an indicator of other needs i.e. SEND or EAL. In the case of some families with EAL it is often because they do not have enough English to respond so using interpreting services like Language Line (INTRAN) may help to break down these initial barriers.

Young Carers in Schools guidance have produced a helpful checklist of signs that a CYP may be a young carer.

If you think a CYP may be a young carer, speak to your Young Carers champion (if you do not have one, speak to your Inclusion Lead or pastoral team) to ensure appropriate follow-up conversations takes place to identify whether the CYP has a caring role and if so, what support needs to be put in place. The next few sections will help you consider next steps!

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The Inclusion and SEND Team supports mainstream settings with training, advice and guidance on Inclusion and SEND provision.

If you have a pupil at imminent risk of permanent exclusion, please contact our helpline: 01603 307736. Monday - Friday 9am-4.30pm.

For all other cases, please make a referral to the Inclusion and SEND team, by completing this referral form.

If your query relates to training, please email the training mailbox: sendandinclusiontraining@norfolk.gov.uk

If your query relates to Element 3 funding, please email the Element 3 funding mailbox: element3funding@norfolk.gov.uk

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If you'd like to discuss a referral for additional support, contact Carers Matter via https://www.youngcarersmatternorfolk.org/  or by calling 0800 083 1148

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If you'd like to organise a Young Carer's Needs Assessment, then please contact Norfolk County Council on 0344 800 8020.
Family consent is needed.