(1)Where it appears to a local authority that a carer of a child is likely to have needs for support after the child becomes 18, the authority must, if it is satisfied that it would be of significant benefit to the carer to do so, assess—
(a)whether the carer has needs for support and, if so, what those needs are, and
(b)whether the carer is likely to have needs for support after the child becomes 18 and, if so, what those needs are likely to be.
(2)An assessment under subsection (1) is referred to in this Part as a “child’s carer’s assessment”.
(3)Where a child’s carer refuses a child’s carer’s assessment, the local authority is not required to carry out the assessment (and subsection (1) does not apply in the carer’s case).
(4)Where, having refused a child’s carer’s assessment, a child’s carer requests the assessment, subsection (1) applies in the carer’s case (and subsection (3) does not).
(5)Where a child’s carer has refused a child’s carer’s assessment and the local authority concerned thinks that the carer’s needs or circumstances have changed, subsection (1) applies in the carer’s case (but subject to further refusal as mentioned in subsection (3)).
(6)Where a local authority, having received a request to carry out a child’s carer’s assessment from the carer concerned, decides not to comply with the request, it must give the carer—
(a)written reasons for its decision, and
(b)information and advice about what can be done to prevent or delay the development by the carer of needs for support in the future.
(7)“Carer”, in relation to a child, means an adult (including one who is a parent of the child) who provides or intends to provide care for the child (but see subsection (8)).
(8)An adult is not a carer for the purposes of this section if the adult provides or intends to provide care—
(a)under or by virtue of a contract, or
(b)as voluntary work.
(9)But in a case where the local authority considers that the relationship between the child and the adult providing or intending to provide care is such that it would be appropriate for the adult to be regarded as a carer, the adult is to be regarded as such (and subsection (8) is therefore to be ignored in that case).
(10)The references to providing care include a reference to providing practical or emotional support.