Parents of disabled children (called parent carers in the legislation), young people and young carers have strengthened rights to an assessment of their needs under the Children and Families Act 2014.

The Children and Families Act amended the Children Act 1989 (sections 17ZD, 17ZE12 and 17ZF).

Under it, local authorities must assess parent carers if:

• ‘it appears to the authority that the parent carer may have needs for support’, or they
  
• ‘receive a request from the parent carer to assess the parent carer’s needs for support.’

For further information on carers assessments, please click here.

Carers Information Service - New to Caring Video