Young Carers

The Children and Families Act 2014, gives all young carers (regardless of the amount , frequency or nature of caring activities they undertake) a right to an assessment of their needs. The assessment must take account of the wishes of the young carer to participate in education, training, or employment and engage in recreation. The local authority will be required to provide a copy of the assessment to the parent and young carer, and also other parties on the request of the young carer or parent. This may include the school.

When a young person looks after someone in their family who has a disability, suffers mental or physical ill-health or other health-related issues, they may need a little extra support to help them get the most out of school. We have been working to raise awareness amongst the wider staff team of the particular needs that young carers may have. In this way, we aim to provide a supportive environment for those students who may have more responsibility at home than their peers.

Tasks may include:

· Housework –cleaning ,washing, shopping.

· Child Care – looking after younger siblings.

· Physical care- lifting, helping up the stairs.

· Personal Care – often intimate, e.g. washing, dressing, help with toileting.

· Managing medication – collecting prescriptions, administering daily tablets.

· Financial - Managing the family budget, paying bills, collecting benefits.

· Emotional support-listening, being there.

· Interpreting (either because of a hearing or speech impairment or because English is not the first language of the family e.g. children of asylum seekers, or new immigrants from East European Communities).

Support

If you feel that your child is carrying out any of the tasks above on a regular basis due to your physical or mental health issues or the needs of a sibling, then please contact the school.

Ring and ask for an appointment with Mrs Peace or Mrs Vickers.

Mrs Peace is the Family Liaison Lead and a Deputy Safeguarding Lead. She is a Young Carer Champion, a a qualified ELSA and has received bereavement support training from Daisy’s Dream. She also has over 14 years experience within the education sector.

Mrs Vickers is our Nurture Hub lead, has previously worked for Nurture UK and Family Action, so has extensive knowledge around both Nurture and Young Carers . She is also a Young Carer Champion.

Support and advice is also available from the RBWM Hub service at Achieving for children who have recently merged with Family Action the Young Carer’s Support Service.