Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to increase support for (a) young carers and (b) their families.

Local authorities are required to identify young carers in their local area and undertake an assessment where they think there is a need for support, or when support is requested by the parent or young carer. The local authority should consider the needs of the whole family when carrying out this assessment.

Early help services play a pivotal role in promoting safe, stable and resilient families. As set out in the children’s social care reform implementation strategy, Stable Homes, Built on Love, the department will test how multi-disciplinary family help teams can improve the support children and families receive, including young carers, through the £45 million Families First for Children Pathfinder programme. The Stable Homes, Built on Love strategy can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1147317/Children_s_social_care_stable_homes_consultation_February_2023.pdf.