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.
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