Help and support for young carers
All young people deserve to reach their full potential and aspirations.
In partnership with North Tyneside Carers Centre, we strive to support Young Carers. We want to provide the right help at the right time for children, young people and their families.
Do you know a Young Carer? Who can be a Young Carer?
A Young Carer is any young person aged between 5 years and 18 years, who has caring responsibilities, or lives with a family member that has a health need or condition that impacts the family’s everyday life.
Who's eligible?
All children under 18 in North Tyneside can access Young Carer Support and support their family as a young carer. Young carers support their families in lots of different ways. Being a young carer means you might help to:
- Administer medication
- Help to lift family members
- Help with personal care (bathing, toileting)
- Help to run the house (budget, shopping, cooking)
- Give emotional support to a parent or sibling
- Collect siblings from school
There are many ways a young carer may help their family and every young carer’s situation is different. We’re here to understand what support might help.
What support can be accessed
In North Tyneside, children and young people can access support in the setting they feel most comfortable, such as community centres, schools and the Carers Centre.
How do I refer?
From 1st March 2026, Young Carer assessment pathway in North Tyneside has changed. See the flow chart below.
Step 1: Understand what the Young Carer needs
New Young Carers Screening Tool:
From 1st March, a new Young Carers Screening Tool has been introduced.
The Screening Tool is now the first step in assessing a Young Carer’s level of need. This tool is designed to:
- Help practitioners understand the impact of a young person’s caring role
- Identify the level of support required
- Ensure young carers can access appropriate support in a timely way
The screening tool should be completed by a trusted professional with the young person in the first instance to decide what support and actions are needed for the child or young person.
It is centred on an in‑depth conversation with the young person that leads to a supportive and meaningful action plan depending on the level of support the child or young person needs. It helps support you to decide whether a child needs moderate support (Tier 1) or more focused support, because the child is experiencing significant impact because of their caring role (Tier 2).
All young carers on the Young Carers Screening Tool (Tier 1 and Tier 2) should be offered:
- Young Carers Guide
- Explore the benefits of a Young Carers Ease Card
- Named person in school
- Access to Emotional Wellbeing Support
- Information on NERAP
- Connexions transition support
- Information sharing with GP
Step 2: Offer the right support and review regularly
Tier 1
This is the category if the Young Carers Screening Tool identifies moderate caring responsibilities and the young carer does not require a referral for specialist support.
Next steps:
- Send the Young Carers Screening Tool to Youngcarerassessment@northtyneside.gov.uk
- Update school systems
- Review in 6 months or sooner if any change
Tier 2
If the information gathered indicates a significant impact due to their caring role, you must offer a Young Carers Needs Assessment or a Transition Assessment (age 16-18):
This could include:
- Talking about feelings with a therapist or counsellor
- Extra help at school or college
- One-to-one support
- A break from caring to rest, play, or do fun activities
Next steps:
- A trusted adult completes the Young Carers Needs Assessment or a Transition Assessment (age 16-18) and review it every 6 months.
- Send the Young Carers Screening Tool and YCNA Assessment to Youngcarerassessment@northtyneside.gov.uk
- Update school systems
- Review in 6 months or sooner if any change
Downloadable documents
I'm a professional and am not sure how to do it:
You can access training online training from Learning Pool for schools and Carers Centre can offer advice, information and support. www.northtynesidecarers.org.uk
For any enquiries please contact YoungCarers@ntcarers.co.uk or YoungCarerAssessment@northtyneside.gov.uk