From what I’m seeing, there’s a strong focus on outcomes and impact — not just what you’ll deliver, but the difference it will make and how you’ll evidence it.
There’s also a big emphasis on reaching the “right” people, especially hidden or underserved carers, and showing how you’ll reduce barriers to access.
Partnership working keeps coming up too — commissioners want to see how you fit into the wider system and avoid duplication.
And alongside all of that, value for money is still front and centre.
Would be great to hear what others are seeing come through in recent tenders.
From what’s working in practice, the biggest shift is moving away from waiting for carers to self-identify and instead being proactive. A lot of carers don’t recognise themselves as carers — some take years to realise — so relying on them to come forward just doesn’t work.
Consistently asking the right questions is making a real difference. Not one-off forms, but regular check-ins, conversations, and creating opportunities for young people to share what’s going on in a way that feels safe. Even simple questions built into everyday interactions can help uncover caring roles earlier.
What’s also working is better multi-agency collaboration. When schools, health services, and community organisations share information and take a “whole family” view, it becomes much easier to spot patterns and identify carers before things reach crisis point.
And importantly, building awareness and reducing stigma. A lot of hidden carers stay hidden because of fear, secrecy, or just thinking their situation is normal — so normalising conversations around caring is key.
The common thread is this: identification works best when the responsibility isn’t placed on the carer alone — it’s built into everyday practice across services.
From what I’m seeing, there’s a strong focus on measurable outcomes and value for money, but also more emphasis on early intervention and prevention. There seems to be growing interest in how services identify and reach hidden carers, not just those already known.
Partnership working also feels key — showing how you connect with health, education, and community organisations rather than working in isolation.
At the same time, there’s still that challenge of balancing numbers with real lived impact.
Would be great to hear directly from others — what are you seeing come through most strongly in recent tenders?
Young carers and mobile phone bans in schools really highlights how one-size policies can miss real life situations.
For some students, a phone is just a distraction. But for young carers, it can be a way to check in, stay reassured, and be reachable if something happens at home.
Taking that away completely doesn’t just remove a distraction — it can add a layer of worry that’s hard to switch off during the school day.
It feels like the conversation shouldn’t just be about banning phones, but about how schools can recognise and support young carers in a more flexible, realistic way.
