This paper reports findings from a national, qualitative study in England that investigated if young adult carers services are facilitating young people’s transitions to adulthood, including considering a future beyond caring. Semi-structured, online interviews were conducted in 2022 with a purposive sample of managers or lead workers of eleven young adult carers services in England. We discuss the consideration given in assessments to young people’s caring preferences and the availability of support to facilitate them to relinquish their role, if they so wished. The majority of young adult carers services gave young people the opportunity to express their views on this issue. Although the Care Act 2014 aimed to provide choice over caring in adulthood to young adult carers, this was not matched by the necessary service provision to facilitate their preferences. A new national carers strategy is urgently required to ensure that young people, particularly women, have a credible choice over their future lives.

Social care policy in the UK emphasises the importance of supporting young adult carers to make positive transitions to adulthood. This paper reports findings from a qualitative study which explored whether young adult carers' services in England are facilitating transitions.The research found that young adult carers' services were endeavouring to raise young adult carers' aspirations and achieve personalised outcomes, in line with the Care Act 2014. However, formal provision for young adult carers in England, in the main, designates them as adult carers. Yet, young adult carers need to have sufficient opportunities for making decisions about their futures. Strategic funding and development of services are required to enable the Act's vision to be achieved.