Young Carers Statements

The Carers (Scotland) Act will make provisions for a Young Carers Statement (YCS) to be prepared for carers who are under 18, or over 18 but still at school.

The young carer must have access to the information in this statement. When a young carer reaches 18 and intends to continue caring, the YCS will continue to apply until there is an Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP) in place. Not all young carers will have a wellbeing need that requires a Child’s Plan, but if a Child’s Plan is already in place for a young carer, the YCS will be developed in addition to this so there is a document with a focus on their needs as a carer. The Local Authority is accountable for the preparation of a YCS.

The YCS will identify personal outcomes for the young carer, and must contain information about:

The nature and extent of the care provided and the impact on your wellbeing and day-to-day life
The extent to which you are able and willing to provide care
Whether the responsible authority thinks that it is appropriate for you, as a child or young person, to be a carer for the person you care for
Emergency and future care planning, including any arrangements that are in place
What ‘personal outcomes’ matter to you in order continue to provide care, where that is appropriate, to have a life alongside caring, and to improve your own health and wellbeing
Support available to you if you live in a different local authority are from the person you care for
Whether support should be provided as a break from caring
Support available to you locally
Any support which the responsible authority intends to provide to you and
The circumstances in which your young carer statement is to be reviewed.