For Young People
For Families
For Professionals
For Supporters
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) outlines that every child has the right to:
At SYC, we are committed to ensuring that young carers receive the same rights, opportunities and care that all children are entitled to.
The Children and Families Act 2014 and the Care Act 2014 gives young carers and their families the right to help and support. This support can take many forms but the main focus is to make sure that your caring role is not having a negative impact on your health, well-being and future opportunities and that you can choose how much and what caring you do.
You can read the Acts, here.
This legislation also gives young carers and young adult carers the right to an assessment, 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
This legislation also gives young carers and young adult carers the right to an assessment, 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 Health and Care Act 2022 gave carers of all ages new rights. NHS hospital trusts in England must ensure that unpaid carers are involved in discharge planning. This means that if the person you are caring for has been in hospital and a decision has been made that they can come home, the health team looking after them must talk to you about what you think should happen to support that person to leave hospital safely and what you need to help look after them at home.
Health teams should also speak to you about the on-going care and treatment of the person you look after so that your views and opinions are listened to and to make sure you understand what decisions are being made.
Find out more here
The Carers Leave Act 2023 gives working carers, including young adult carers, the right to one week’s unpaid leave per year for providing or arranging care for a relative/dependent. This means that you can take up to five days off each year so you can take care of the person you look after. Find out more here.
Young carers have the right to a “transitions assessment” which will look at what help and support you may need to achieve your goals from when you turn 18. When a young carer turns 18, they are classed as a young adult carer. Find out more here.