“No Wrong Doors” for Young Carers – A review and refresh

Carers Trust has been commissioned by the Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Adult Social Services as Partners in Care and Health to lead a national review and refresh of the “No wrong doors: working together to support young carers and their families” template Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

First introduced in 2009 and last refreshed in 2015, the MoU is designed to improve joint working between adult and social care services in respect of identification and support for young carers and their families.

As part of this work, Carers Trust has conducted a review of how “No Wrong Doors” is working in practice. The findings of this review can be found in the attached insights briefing. They include:

• Only 7% of local authorities appear to currently have “No Wrong Doors” or its principles embedded
• A number of local authorities had previously formally adopted it or referenced it in local Carers Strategies, but now make no reference to the MoU or its principles in latest iterations
• Many Carer Leads and commissioners were either not aware of “No Wrong Doors” at all, or had no knowledge as to if their local area had adopted the MoU.
• Some areas had clear audit and assurance mechanisms to ensure No Wrong Doors was embedded, but then do not appear to have continued utilising these.
• There were examples of where “No Wrong Doors” is still active
• There was support from young carer services and councils for the principles of “No Wrong Doors” and the need for a national focus on it, including through statutory guidance and CQC/Ofsted assurance.

Carers Trust is leading a working group including a range of stakeholders to update the MoU and produce new practice guidance to support local councils and integrated care boards.

The refreshed MoU and guidance will be launched at a webinar on Thursday 29th February, 10am to 12pm. E-mail amcgowan@carers.org to be informed when bookings open.

Carers Trust will also be delivering a workshop on this topic at the upcoming NCAS conference taking place in Bournemouth later this month.

To find out more about this work, contact Andy McGowan, Policy and Practice Manager (Young Carers and Young Adult Carers) at Carers Trust on amcgowan@carers.org)