It’s your life
The most important thing you can do is make time to think about your own life.
Career Guidance
In education law, you have a right to have independent careers guidance from a qualified professional in a face-to-face meeting to age 19.
It’s very important to explain your caring role to the careers adviser, and how this influences the decisions you are making. If you need help getting an appointment, contact the 18-24 team.
- Sixth Forms have a responsibility to provide career help to all of their students, considering all options – not just university advice.
- Further Education colleges also have careers advisers, plus information software you can use.
In interviews, I have been able to articulate that being a young carer has meant that I am responsible, empathetic, and potentially more mature than my peers, as a young adult. I have developed coping mechanisms to be able to handle pressure, as well as conflicting priorities and time restraints.
The National Careers Service
The National Careers Service offers phone and webchat contact with a careers adviser. See the website for reliable information on 800+ jobs with links for further information. It also has good advice on the practical steps of applications, CVs and interviews.
Visit the National Careers Service
Real people talk about their jobs at icloud.
University years
- Courses which include a year in employment will give you an advantage. Alternatively, you should plan experiences related to your career interests during your time at university.
- The university careers service should be your first stop. They have information on graduate career paths at their fingertips. It’s likely that you remain eligible for help from the university careers department for years after graduation – sometimes for life!
The go-to source for graduate job information is Prospects.
Is your caring role preventing you from getting the education or employment you want?
You shouldn’t be doing a caring role that:
- Means you do worse at school, college or university.
- Stops you getting a job or keeping a job.
- Stops you wanting to achieve your goals for the future.
- Makes your health worse.
The Care Act of 2014 sets out the responsibilities that local authorities, such as Surrey County Council (SCC) have to you as an adult carer.
If you look after someone you have the right to ask for a carer’s assessment. This looks at the impact your caring responsibilities have on your life and if you might be eligible for support to improve your life.
This is important to think about if you plan to leave home or be at home a lot less. If your absence will cause a gap in the care for your loved one, or you are worried about siblings who will be left at home, talk with the 18-24 team as early as possible.
If your loved one has a social care plan, this could be the time to request a review.
You can ask for a discussion with social care without your loved one if you wish, although ideally, it’s better if the whole family is involved.
