Referring a Young Carer for Support for Social workers and Family/Early Help Workers

This form is for Social workers and Family Help Workers referring young carers aged under 18.  Other professionals, parents and guardians should not use this form.

• Other professionals, parents and guardians referring young carers aged under 18, please use this form.
• For referrals for adult carers aged 18 and over, please use this form

Referring a Young Carer for Support

Identifying and supporting young carers is a shared responsibility across all professionals and organisations working with children, young people, and families. Many young carers remain hidden, and your awareness and timely action can make a significant difference to their wellbeing.

A young carer is someone under 18 who helps to look after a family member with a disability, long-term illness, mental health condition, or challenges related to drug and/or alcohol misuse. Young carers may support a parent, sibling, or another relative in the household, and their caring role can affect their school attendance, wellbeing, and overall development.

Before Completing a Referral

Please read the eligibility criteria before submitting a referral.

Referrals are accepted only via the online referral form. We cannot accept referrals submitted by email or through the downloadable Word version of the form.

A referral can only be made with parent/guardian consent. By referring a young carer, you confirm that consent has been obtained and that parents/guardians understand:

• They will be contacted by phone, email or post.
• Their personal details will be held in line with our Privacy Policy.
• We may contact them for feedback on service developments or changes.

If you need help completing the form or require translation support, please contact the Young Carers team on 0117 958 9980 or email [email protected].

Completing the Online Referral Form

• The form must be completed in one sitting; it cannot be saved and returned to later.
• If you have completed the local authority Young Carers Assessment Form, you do not need to complete Section 2 – Role and impact of caring. Once you’ve completed the other sections of the online referral form, please email the Young Carers Assessment Form to [email protected], making sure the young carer’s name and date of birth are included.
• If you have not completed the local authority Young Carers Assessment, you will need to complete Section 2. Please involve the child/young person (the young carer) in answering Section 2 wherever possible.
• To support your preparation, you can download a printable version containing all the questions, but this cannot be submitted as a referral.
• Please complete the form as fully as possible to help us identify the appropriate level of support.

Once received, Young Carers Support aims to contact the family within two weeks.

Identifying Young Carers

Recognising young carers early helps ensure they access appropriate support. Young carers may be reluctant to discuss their home situation, but often say that no one has asked them about it. Key indicators may vary depending on your setting, but could include:

• Mentioning that someone at home has a disability, illness, or substance-related difficulty.
• Poor or irregular school attendance, frequent lateness, or early departures.
• Transitioning to home-schooling following challenges with school attendance.
• Experiences of bullying or significant anxiety, stress, or tiredness.
• Noticeable changes in behaviour, concentration, or emotional wellbeing.
• Awareness that a parent has a disability, long-term health condition, mental health issue, or substance misuse challenges.

Professionals are central to helping families recognise that support is available and encouraging them to access it.

Online referral form