Local and national legislation and strategy

The right to an assessment:

The Children and Families Act 2014 and the Care Act 2014 give young carers and young adult carers the right to an assessment, placing duties on agencies to be offering these assessments. In Sheffield, the Young Carers Assessment was co-produced with young carers from SYC. It is an accessible and useful tool providing a guided conversation to inform your own work with the young carer and their family, involving other services where appropriate (with the young person’s knowledge/consent).

This assessment should be offered by any professional who identifies or is working with an identified young carer. If an assessment has already been completed by another agency (e.g. FIS), it would be useful for you to request a copy to increase your understanding about their caring role and the impacts this has on them.

For more information and to download the assessment guidance notes and booklet, click here.

The right to be involved with hospital discharge planning:

The Health and Care Act 2022 gave carers of all ages new rights:

  • NHS hospitals trusts in England must ensure that unpaid carers are involved in discharge planning

  • Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) have duties to involve carers in decision-making

  • Find out more here.

Rights at work:

The Carers Leave Act 2023 gives working carers, including young adult carers, an entitlement to one week’s unpaid leave per year for providing or arranging care for a relative/dependent. Find out more here.

Sheffield Carers Strategy

Sheffield also has a Carers Strategy Implementation Group, which aims to ensure the principles of Sheffield's Young Carer, Parent and Adult Carer Strategy are being put into action, and that the views of young and adult carers in Sheffield are being acted upon.

If you would like to get involved with these plans, please contact us for more information.