Who is a Parent Carer?
Children & Families Act 2014 defines a Parent Carer as “a person aged 18 or over who provides or intends to provide care for a disabled child for whom the person has parental responsibility.”
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If your child is now an adult (over 18) your needs as a Carer will be supported by Adult Services.
If you are over 18 and provide care to a child (aged under 18) with a special educational need or disability (SEND) for whom you have parental responsibility then this area of the website is for you.
Children & Families Act 2014 defines a Parent Carer as “a person aged 18 or over who provides or intends to provide care for a disabled child for whom the person has parental responsibility.”
There are some fundamental differences in the ways in which services to support Parent Carers of children under 18 are organised in Merton. We can signpost you to organisations that can help.
All children are individual and develop at different rates. However, some children have significant difficulties with learning compared to their peers, which is referred to as ‘Special Educational Needs’ or SEN.
If your child has a disability which significantly impacts on their day to day life, they may be eligible for support with personal care or other practical assistance from Children’s Social Care.
If you are a Parent Carer of a child with a disability you are entitled to an assessment of your own needs. This is called a Parent Carer Needs Assessment (PCNA).
Caring for a child with disabilities can take its toll on your mental health & wellbeing. Looking after yourself is often forgotten, but vital to ensure you can continue to care for your child.
Many Parent Carers benefit from support of other parents in a similar position. Support is available through face to face groups, and increasingly through online forums.
Caring for a disabled child can take its toll on your finances, and the rising cost of living means it is now harder than ever for families to make ends meet.
Receiving news that your child has a life-threating or terminal illness is one of the most stressful and traumatic experience a parent can have. Obviously, your focus will be on caring for your child, but it it’s also important that you seek support for yourself.
Carers Support Merton
The Vestry Hall,
336-338 London Road,
Mitcham, Surrey
CR4 3UD
