Thousands of young carers in Barnet remain unidentified, with an estimated 6,500 individuals aged five to 17 living in the borough, according to a report presented to the Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

The primary reasons for this significant number of unidentified young carers are their hidden nature and the anxiety some children and parents experience about council involvement due to caring responsibilities, leading to a reluctance to disclose their situation. In 2023, only 13% of these young carers were known to the service and receiving support.

A diverse group of young people are seated on a rooftop, some interacting and others looking thoughtful, with one holding a mosaic artwork.
A diverse group of young people are seated on a rooftop, some interacting and others looking thoughtful, with one holding a mosaic artwork.

Efforts are underway to improve identification through assessments, partner information sharing, and increased awareness campaigns in schools and with GPs. A key initiative is the addition of a question about young carer status to the transition form from primary to secondary school. This change, a recommendation from the Young Carers Task and Finish Group, is expected to significantly improve identification rates by ensuring secondary schools know straight away from day one, that someone is a young carer.

The figures are estimates based on national trends and youth surveys, acknowledging the hidden nature of this group and the difficulties in obtaining precise data. Councillor David Longstaff questioned the robustness of these figures, but officers explained that while not empirically exact, they are based on national trends and youth surveys. Councillor Anne Hutton, who served on the Young Carers Task and Finish Group, confirmed that Barnet Carers provided figures that informed these estimates and that the group's recommendation to add a question to the transition form had been implemented.

The report also highlighted that the Young Carers Task and Finish Group's recommendations have been largely accepted by the Cabinet. These include improving the identification of young carers and ensuring wraparound support services are in place. Further details on the group's recommendations can be found in the Cover report Young Carers Task and Finish Group.

A representative from Barnet Fostering at a recruitment event in a shopping centre.
A representative from Barnet Fostering at a recruitment event in a shopping centre.