Advice and support is available specifically for young carers under 18.
Under new laws (Children and Families Act and Care Act 2014), the local authority is required to identify if there are any children within a family where an adult member of the family has care and support needs. The local authority should identify if the child is a young carer, and if the child is providing inappropriate care for an adult.
Young carers under 18 years are entitled to a young carers assessment to identify any support needs. Where a young carer is likely to have needs upon reaching the age of 18 – thus moving from Children’s Services to Adult Services - they are also entitled to a Carers Assessment.
A young carer is a child or young person whose life is affected by being involved in caring for a family member with a disability, mental ill health, chronic illness or dependency on drugs or alcohol.
Barnardo's provides specialist support to young carers aged 5 to 18. The service provides specialist support for each child, including:
- advocacy
- advice
- information
- signposting to other agencies that can help
How to make a referral
Please contact Barnardo’s Action with Young Carers Wirral for a referral form:
- call 0151 650 5488
- wirralservices@barnardos.org.uk
Barnardo's Action With Young Carers Wirral
The Lauries
142 Claughton Road
Birkenhead
Wirral
CH41 6EY
Once this is received, we can begin the assessment process and put an appropriate support plan in place.