Proposed Decision: To commission, via an external provider, a service that supports young carers.
Reason for decision:
The existing Young Carers service contract will end in May 2027 and requires recommissioning to enable Kent County Council to meet its statutory obligations under Section 96 of the Children and Families Act 2014, which requires all young carers under 18 to receive a needs assessment.
The overarching aim of a Young Carers Service is the assessment of caring responsibilities to help young people reconnect with activities that allow them to experience childhood, while still recognising their caring responsibilities.
The proposal is to commission an externally delivered Kent Young Carers Support Service
Total value of the contract exceeds £1m and impacts more than two electoral divisions.
Background:
· Local authorities have a statutory duty to support young carers by providing a needs assessment for every young carer under the age of 18, regardless of who they care for or the type or amount of care they provide.
· This proposal seeks approval to commission a new Kent Young Carers Support Service. It includes delegating responsibility to the Corporate Director for Children, Young People and Education to award a contract with an initial term of four years (with a two year, plus two year extension) following a compliant procurement process and to carry out contract management and oversight,
· Commissioning activity includes developing the Specification with professional stakeholders and young carers.
Options
In any commissioning activity, the options considered included
1. Do nothing
2. Creating a new in-house model
3. Externally commissioning a new service
These will be explored in more detail for the Recommendation Report.
Links to the Council’s Strategic Statement
1.1.This proposal aligns to Aim 3 of Reforming Kent[1] 2025-2028 “Supporting residents that need help.”
· The proposed service would identify, support, and empower young carers so they can achieve positive outcomes in education, health, and wellbeing, while reducing the negative impact of caring responsibilities on their childhood and future opportunities.
Decision type: Key
Decision status: For Determination
Notice of proposed decision first published: 25/02/2026
Decision due: Not before 25th Mar 2026 by Cabinet Member for Integrated Children's Services
Reason: To allow 28 day notice period required under Executive Decision regulations
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Integrated Children's Services
Lead director: Ingrid Crisan
Department: Education & Young People's Services
Contact: Christy Holden, Head of Children's Commissioning.
Consultees
The proposed decision will be considered at the Children, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee on 17 March 2026
Financial implications: This service is currently budgeted from the Council’s General Fund. Spend is reported within the revenue budget against the Key service line Early Help and Preventative services budget. The budget available is £330k per annum.
Legal implications: Section17ZA of the Children Act 1989, as amended by the Children and Families Act 2014, legislates that Local Authorities must assess whether a young carer within their area has needs for support and, if so, what those needs are, if; - it appears to the authority that the young carer may have need for support, or - the authority receive a request from the young carer or a parent of the young carer to assess the young carer’s needs for support. The procurement of the services will be conducted in compliance with the Procurement Act 2023.
Equalities implications: Equalities implications An Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) screening has been completed and has concluded that the proposed decision does not present any adverse equality impact. Data Protection implications DPIA will be completed.