Young Adult Carers and Social Care Services
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of adult social care in improving outcomes for young people who provide unpaid care
IRAS ID
217501
Contact name
Nicola Brimblecombe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
London School of Economics and Political Science
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
The aim of this study is to investigate how adult social care services for the person with care needs might make a difference in the lives of young adult unpaid carers.
The research focuses on unpaid carers between the ages of 16 and 25 in England, caring for adults. There are currently approximately 350, 000 young people aged 16–25 in England and Wales providing unpaid care, mainly to adults. This has increased over the last ten years, as has the amount of time young people are spending providing unpaid care. Recent legislation in England has brought in new support provision for young adult carers including the explicit consideration of providing paid support and services for the care-recipient to meet the needs of their unpaid carers. These needs include wellbeing, personal development, physical and mental health, education and employment, areas in which young adult’s caring duties negatively impact, with associated individual and societal costs. However, not much is known about the role of services for the care-recipient in supporting young adult carers nor how much is needed.
This 30-month study aims to, firstly, examine the association between receipt of social care services by the person with care needs and the health, employment, education and relationships of the young person who provides unpaid care for them. Secondly, to investigate the extent of unmet need for social care services for the care-recipient and the costs of providing this care. In order to answer these questions, the study will use both analysis of national data already collected and new primary data collected through questionnaires to young adult carers and the people they support in England.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
16/IEC08/0046
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jan 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion