Local and national legislation and strategy

The right to an assessment:

The Children and Families Act 2014 and the Care Act 2014 give young carers and young adult carers the right to an assessment, placing duties on agencies to be offering these assessments. An assessment is a way for a young carer to get help to make their life and their caring easier. In Sheffield, the Young Carers Assessment was co-produced with young carers from SYC.

From 20 November 2025, all Young Carers Needs Assessments in Sheffield will be carried out by the Young Carers Needs Assessment Team (YCAT) within Sheffield City Council. (This was previously a multi-agency assessment that any practitioner could complete). You can find out more about how to get an assessment here.

The right to be involved with hospital discharge planning:

The Health and Care Act 2022 gave carers of all ages new rights:

  • NHS hospitals trusts in England must ensure that unpaid carers are involved in discharge planning

  • Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) have duties to involve carers in decision-making

  • Find out more here.

Rights at work:

The Carers Leave Act 2023 gives working carers, including young adult carers, an entitlement to one week’s unpaid leave per year for providing or arranging care for a relative/dependent. Find out more here.

Sheffield Carers Strategy

Sheffield also has a Carers Strategy Implementation Group, which aims to ensure the principles of Sheffield's Young Carer, Parent and Adult Carer Strategy are being put into action, and that the views of young and adult carers in Sheffield are being acted upon.

If you would like to get involved with these plans, please contact us for more information.