The Young Carers (Needs Assessments) Regulations 2015

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations are the first to be made under section 17ZB of the Children Act 1989.

Section 17ZA of the Children Act 1989 imposes a duty on local authorities to assess whether young carers in their area have needs for support and, if so, to assess what those needs are. These Regulations make further provision about how the local authority must carry out that duty.

Regulation 2 provides that a local authority must carry out the assessment appropriately and proportionately and must provide information about the manner and form of the assessment so far as reasonably practicable before it takes place.

Regulation 3 requires a local authority to ensure that a person carrying out the assessment on their behalf is appropriately trained and has sufficient knowledge and skill to carry out that assessment. A local authority must consult others with expertise and knowledge in relation to the young carer, as they think appropriate, and must have regard to any other assessment which may have been carried out in relation to the young carer or the person cared for and which the local authority consider to be relevant.

Regulation 4 prescribes the matters which the local authority must consider or determine when carrying out the assessment.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no significant additional burdens on the voluntary or private sectors are foreseen.