Carers: Children

Department for Education written question – answered at on 21 June 2018.

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Photo of Judith Cummins Judith Cummins Shadow Minister (International Trade)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on children of providing care to a family member.

Photo of Judith Cummins Judith Cummins Shadow Minister (International Trade)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to ensure that children who provide care to a family member receive adequate support.

Photo of Nadhim Zahawi Nadhim Zahawi The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education

This month saw the launch of the cross-government, Careers Action Plan (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/713781/carers-action-plan-2018-2020.pdf),a two-year programme of tailored work to support unpaid carers of all ages.

Chapter three of this important plan sets out the government’s action specifically to support young carers. This includes plans to improve: identification of young carers; educational opportunities and outcomes; access to support and services; and transition for young adult carers.

Following the introduction of duties under the Children and Families Act 2014, the Department for Education commissioned 'The lives of young carers in England' (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-lives-of-young-carers-in-england) omnibus research report, published January 2017. This large-scale study gathered data on experiences of young carers in England, and information about the scale and nature of the care they provide and the issues they face.

The department collects information on young carers through the annual Children in Need census (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-children-in-need), which records young carers who are unlikely to achieve or maintain a reasonable level of health or development, or whose health and development is likely to be significantly or further impaired, without the provision of services.

The government is working with organisations who support young carers, for example the Department of Health and Social Care is currently working with Carers Trust on a project to support the effective identification and engagement of young carers.

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