Young Carers Rights in Wales

In Wales, every young carer has the right to a carer’s needs assessment, carried out by their local authority. This right is set out in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.

This Act provides the legal framework for improving the well-being of carers of all ages, including young carers.

By law, all young carers have the right to support for any eligible needs. The need for support is identified through a local authority carer’s needs assessment.

Any young carer that might need support must be offered an assessment. It is not dependent on how much care the child or young person provides or whether the person they care for is receiving support through the local authority.

Not all young carers will need a carer’s needs assessment. But all carers, of any age, have a right to access information, advice and assistance from their local authority, whether or not they have been assessed.

The council can provide this information, advice and assistance themselves or refer to a local young carers service to do this on their behalf.

Local authorities and health boards across Wales must also promote the well-being of carers who need support.

Young carers in Wales have legal rights under this Act as carers. Some may also have rights as a child in need of care and support.  A Code of Practice for the Act says that an assessment should:

• consider how able and willing the young person is to provide care and to continue to do this.
• look at the outcomes those with parental responsibility for the young carer want for their child, and whether extra support could help them to achieve these outcomes.
• involve the carer and, where possible, the person being cared for. The young carer may sometimes receive support from an independent young carers worker during the assessment.
• if the carer is a child, consider their developmental needs and whether it is appropriate for the child to provide the care.
• if the carer is aged between 16 and 25, assess any current or future transitions the carer is likely to make into further or higher education, employment or training.

What is a young carer assessment

Organising and preparing for your young carer assessment

What to expect during and after your assessment

Young adult carers and employment rights

More help for young carers