AQW 29463/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health to outline what support and interventions are available for young carers in each Health and Social Care Trust.
Asked by Kellie Armstrong MLA on 27 June 2025
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 27 June 2025
- Answer due by
- 16 July 2025
- Answered
- 8 July 202511 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Young carer assessments can be completed by the Trusts or the commissioned Regional Young Carers Service. The number of young carer assessments completed during the 20024-25 financial year as reported by each Health and Social Care Trust and the regionally commissioned young carers services as follows:
| Belfast | Northern | South Eastern | Southern | Western | |
| Number of Young carers assessments completed as reported by Trusts in Statutory Function Report | 83 | no data available | 29 | 60 | 4 |
| Number of Young Carers assessments completed as reported by Action for Children or Barnardo's | 43 | 8 | 23 | 60 | 3 |
Work is ongoing to differentiate the number of assessments conducted by the contracted regional service providers (Action for Children and Barnardo’s) and those by the Trusts. My officials are working with Northern Trust on their data.
Last year the contracted regional service providers delivered direct support for 605 Young Carers
Belfast – Action for Children - 109 young people
Northern – Barnardo’s – 128 young people
South Eastern - Action for Children 81 young people
Southern - Action for Children - 216 young people
Western – Barnardo’s - 71 young people
The Department provides funding to commission and deliver a Regional Young Carers Service. this is currently provided by Action for Children and Barnardo’s who as part of their service delivery undertake assessments of Young Carers on behalf of HSC Trusts.
Barnardo’s operate in the Western and Northern Trust areas, Action for Children operates in Belfast, Southern and South Eastern Trust areas.
The following services are commissioned across all five HSC Trusts –
Day short breaks- this is a large group activity designed to offer young carers a short break with a focus on fun and socialising with peers.
1-1 therapeutic work – this is 1-1 face time with a young carer. It may take place as part of their assessment, review or ongoing service delivery (including 1-1 therapeutic work or a 1-1 short break session)
Group work – this includes 2 or more young carers attending a group where there is a specific focus in response to identified need e.g. mental health group, sibling group.
Action for Children also offer Overnight short breaks in Belfast, Southern and South Eastern Trust areas. This is a residential activity that includes an overnight away from home designed to offer a short break with fun and socialising with peers. This may also include focussed group work.