Tools and Resources for Practitioners
Being a carer can mean lots of different things - for young people caring for a member of their family, or loved one could make them a young carer. Young carers are people under 18 years old who look after a loved one who has a disability, illness, mental health condition or is affected by drug and alcohol use. Caring can include practical tasks or emotional support.
If you work with young people, then it is highly likely that you work with young carers too!
We are all responsible for ensuring young carers in Manchester are providing a level of care that is appropriate; know what their rights are; and are not spending so much time caring for someone else that it impacts on their schoolwork, having time to relax or seeing their mates.
Please view the downloads section for tools and resources available to practitioners supporting Young Carers, including:
Manchester Young Carers Strategy and Pathway to Support
Manchester’s Young Carers Strategy 2017–2019 was co-produced with Young Carers through their ‘Be Bothered’ campaign. To ensure our strategy still reflects the current context and the voice of Young Carers, our refresh builds on the previous work and the learning from it. It has been informed by Young Carers including the Young Carers transition report, December 2018.
The Young Carers Strategy 2020 - 2023 has been developed with young carers and other key partners in health, education and the voluntary sector. The Strategy aims to support young carers to be protected from inappropriate caring, to achieve their full potential and to have access to the same opportunities as their peers.
The Young Carers Pathway highlights the support for young carers as part of the Early Help Offer, this approach will ensure all young carers are identified at the earliest opportunity with seamless pathways to support using a graduated response.
Manchester Young Carers in School Award
If you would like to know more about the Young Carers in School Award and support is available to Manchester Young Carers please contact Kelly Hockaday - Young Carers Coordinator at Manchester City Council k.hockaday@manchester.gov.uk
Early Help Training and Development E-Learning Section
Effective Early Help is essential to improve the life chances of Manchester’s children, young people and their families.
The Young Carers Pathway highlights the support for young carers as part of the Early Help Offer, this approach will ensure all young carers are identified at the earliest opportunity with seamless pathways to support using a graduated response.
Please see our training and Resource section to access our FREE Early Help e-learning course, there is also the opportunity to gain professional accreditation here with The Early Help Assessment Journey.
We also use tools to aid Young Carer Assessments. These assessment tools are called the MACA (Multi-dimensional Assessment of Caring Activities) and PANOC (Positive and Negative Outcomes of Caring). These tools are quick and easy to complete and are in a questionnaire format.
The use of assessment tools can help us to better understand what practical support a young carer is providing as well as how they feel about it. They can also help the practitioner to identify caring activities that may not be appropriate and require a more targeted response.
The forms are available on one document and include guidance on how to use and score the answers. If you would like further advice and guidance on how to use the MACA and PANOC please contact your local Early Help Hub.
North Early Help Hub - 0161 234 1973
Central Early Help Hub - 0161 234 1975
South Early Help Hub - 0161 234 1977
Engage toolkit, supporting black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) young carers and their families
This resource from The Children's Society aims to provide practitioners working with children and families affected by ill health and disability with information, resources and links to help develop and implement best policy and practice for services to identify and support black and minority ethnic young carers and their families.
This site was originally funded by the Department of Health in order to provide an understanding of the needs of black and minority ethnic family carers and best practice support.
Supporting Professionals | Young Carers | The Children's Society
The Whole Family Pathway
Whole Family Pathway
The Whole Family Pathway was developed by The Children's Society and is a resource for all practitioners in every Local Authority across England
Young carers do not care in isolation from the rest of their family. Although they may need support for themselves, their needs should also be considered and met in the context of their whole family.
Using the Whole Family Pathway will help practitioners to implement the changes in legislation for young carers and their families outlined in the Care Act 2014 and Children and Families Act 2014
Young Carers Transition to Adulthood
Developed by The Children's Society this tool ‘Young Carers’ Transition to Adulthood’ is an extension to the Whole Family Pathway. Using this tool will enable professionals to effectively respond to the needs of young carers as they transition to adulthood
The pathway is a resource for all practitioners in every local authority across England and has been produced as part of The Government’s Carers Action Plan, commissioned and funded by the Department of Health and Social Care.
You can access the pathway on the download section on the left-hand side of this page.