Young carers can access support with their caring responsibilities and to have a break as a professional by carrying out a young carers needs assessment and referring them to our service.

Young Carers Needs Assessments

A Carers Needs Assessment is a document completed with a young carer to assess their needs and support. All young carers in North Tyneside are entitled to a Needs Assessment. The Young Carers Needs Assessment have been designed and written by young carers themselves, and have recently been reviewed by our young carers forum. Professionals can access training on how to fill in a needs assessment and the Young Carers Needs Assessment process on North Tyneside Councils Learning Pool. If you would like further information you can contact us on: 0191 643 2298        

Referring a young carer to the Carers’ Centre 

Following the completion of a Young Carers Needs Assessment, the next stage of the process is to make a referral to us. Young Carers who are referred to the Carers’ Centre can access 1:1 work, breaks and activities and if needed, Drama Therapy. Following the completion of a referral, a Young Carers Practitioner will visit the family and young person to assess what they need from the service.

To refer a young person to the service, the following criteria must be met: 

The person must be a young carer. This means they must provide unpaid support for a person who has a long-term or terminal illness, a disability, mental health difficulty or misuses alcohol/substance

The person must be 18 or under (If they are over 18, they may wish to seek support from our Adult Carers’ Service).

• Their caring responsibilities are impacting upon their life. This may be socially, emotionally, educationally or physically. Not all young carers require support. Many cope very well without support from external agencies.

• They must live in North Tyneside or be undertaking their caring role in North Tyneside.

In addition to the above:

A Young Carers Needs Assessment must be in place or due to take place

The family must be aware that you are making the referral 

To refer a young carer please visit our website at https://www.northtynesidecarers.org.uk/professionals/young-carers-referral-form/ and fill in the online referral form. A member of the team will give you a call if they require further information and will then speak to the family direction. If you have any questions regarding the process above or support available to young cares please contact Peter Thorp, the Young Carers Service manager on: (0191) 643 2298.