If you are caring for a child or young person with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), you are a carer - and you may be entitled to support for yourself. 

Caring can be rewarding, but it can also affect your health, work, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. A Carer’s Assessment is a chance to talk about the impact of your caring role and get the support you need.

In Croydon, carers’ assessments are available for parents, family members, or others who care for a child or young person with SEND. Being a carer doesn’t mean doing everything alone.

A Carer’s Assessment is a positive step towards getting the support you deserve - so you can look after yourself while caring for someone you love.

A Carer’s Assessment is:

• A conversation about how caring affects your life.
• A chance to talk about what’s going well, and what’s challenging.
• A way to explore the support, services or practical help that could make things easier for you.

This may include help with:

• Respite (short breaks).
• Emotional support or counselling.
• Help accessing grants, benefits, or local services.
• Help with your own health or wellbeing.
• Support to stay in work, training or education.
• Advice about your rights as a carer. 

You can ask for a Carer’s Assessment if:

• You are a parent or family carer looking after a child or young person with SEND.
• Your child is under 18.
• You feel caring is impacting your own wellbeing, or you need extra help.

You don’t have to be receiving benefits or have a formal diagnosis for your child to be eligible. 

You can:

• Speak to your child’s social worker (if they have one).
• Ask your GP, health visitor, or school SENCo to help refer you.

Or contact Croydon’s Children with Disabilities Team or Adult Social Care directly.

Croydon Adult Social Care:

Phone: 020 8726 6500

 Email: adult.support@croydon.gov.uk

Croydon Children with Disabilities Team:

Phone: 020 8726 6400

Email: childreferrals@croydon.gov.uk 

Croydon offers a range of services to support unpaid carers, including:

• Croydon SENDIASS - for advice on local services and your rights as a carer.
• Croydon Carers Information Service - support groups, events, and one-to-one guidance.
• Short Breaks - for your child so you can have time to rest or recharge.
• Help with accessing benefits, training, or support for your own wellbeing. 

Please click here for more information on Carers’ assessments, respite care, local carer support groups and services for you and your child.

Contact: Carers Assessments - Help for Parent Carers