Young Carers
Young Carer link governor is: Mrs. L. Cox-Watson
Young Carer lead is: Mrs. A. Lawes
We have children within our school who support family members on a regular basis to complete normal everyday tasks. We recognise that these children need additional support and there are services made available to them, following a referral to the Carers Trust.
Don't forget that there is the 'Family Carers' Prescription' where you can ask for support, information and even access to a flexible break.
Who are Young Carers?
A Young Carer is a person under 18 who provides or intends to provide care for another person who is ill, disabled, has a mental health condition, or addiction problem.
What activities might their caring role involve?
The tasks and level of caring undertaken by young carers can vary according to the nature of the illness or disability, the level and frequency of need for care, and the structure of the family as a whole. Young Carers often take on practical and/or emotional caring responsibilities that would normally be expected of an adult.
These can include:
- Practical tasks – cooking, housework and shopping.
- Physical care – lifting or helping someone use the stairs.
- Personal care – dressing, washing, helping with toileting needs.
- Emotional support – listening, calming, being present.
- Managing the family budget, collecting benefits and prescriptions.
- Medication management.
- Looking after younger siblings.
- Helping someone communicate.
What impact can caring responsibilities have on a pupil’s achievement and wellbeing?
Caring can affect a young person’s:
- Physical health: Young Carers are often severely affected by caring through the night, repeatedly lifting a heavy adult, poor diet and lack of sleep.
- Emotional wellbeing: Stress, tiredness and mental ill-health are common for Young Carers.
- Socialisation: Young Carers often feel different or isolated from their peers and have limited opportunities for socialising. A quarter of Young Carers in the UK said they were bullied at school because of their caring role (Carers Trust, 2013).
- Stable environment: Young cCrers can experience traumatic life changes such as bereavement, family break-up, losing income and housing, or seeing the effects of an illness or addiction on the person they care for.
In order to ensure the best possible provision for Young Carers we have:
- Adopted a whole school approach to identifying and supporting young carers.
- Assigned a member of staff for Young Carers - Mrs. A. Lawes - who has responsibility for leading and championing the school’s provision for Young Carers, and is responsible for day-to-day implementation.
In addition to that, we also:
- Promote positive images and information about disability, illness and Young Carers.
- Ensure staff have the information they need to identify Young Carers.
- Consult and listen to Young Carers, ensuring they have time and space to talk.
- Embed Young Carers in existing school systems, monitoring and tracking their attendance, attainment and well-being in the same way as other vulnerable pupil groups.
- Support and signpost young carers and their families.
