Don’t forget young carers

However, as currently drafted, the proposals could have the unintended consequences of weakening protections for children who look after their adult relatives. 

According to research in 2018, there are more than 800,000 young carers in the UK and recent figures show that 180,000 children in England who care for an ill or disabled relative are missing out on support, because they are not known to their local authority.

That’s why it’s so important that young carers are identified before adults are sent home from hospital.

Evidence from children’s charity Barnardo’s shows adults are being discharged from hospital into the care of children, without first making sure these children are aware of their new responsibilities and are being offered support by their local authority, and I fear this is only set to get worse unless the Bill as currently drafted is amended.

Caring for those closest to them is something that many young carers are incredibly proud to do - as I know from my time with Andover Young Carers, as MP for North West Hampshire - but children must never be expected to shoulder the burden of care for family members on their own.

Research published by Barnardo’s found young carers can spend more than 30 hours or more each week looking after their relatives - almost the equivalent of a full-time job. 

This can involve cooking, housework, shopping, or attending medical appointments as well as helping to look after their siblings, leaving little or no time to enjoy their childhood.

Barnardo’s does an invaluable job of supporting many young carers through its excellent services, but as a society we must protect children from taking on too much responsibility at a young age, and from sacrificing their education, or physical and mental health.

Parliament must take the opportunity of the Health and Social Care Bill, currently going through the House of Lords, to recognise the needs of children and ensure young carers are identified by healthcare professionals, so that local authorities can provide them with the support they need.

To help improve support and outcomes for this vulnerable group of young people, I urge the Government to support a cross-party amendment that would introduce a requirement on NHS bodies to identify if a young carer will be the primary carer. And if so, to inform local authorities of any new or existing young carers in their area to make sure they can access the help they need.

Young people caring for their relatives are making a vital contribution to their family and their wider society. We cannot allow these remarkable children and young people to be overlooked by this legislation.

Lord Young of Cookham is a former Chief Whip and Leader of the Commons. He now sits as a Life Peer in the House of Lords.