The School s Guide to identifying and supporting a young carer in your class There is at least one young carer in every classroom Who are yours? The 2011 census figures showed that there are an estimated 2,450 unpaid young carers in Hillindon
The School s Guide to identifying and supporting a young carer in your class Contents What is a young carer? 5 Improving performance in your school 7 Identifying hidden young carers 9 What you can do 11 Our Services 13 How to refer 15 3
1 IN 12 SECONDARY AGE PUPILS ARE YOUNG CARERS Carers Trust I feel the service has helped me in indescribable amounts and I see many of the people as part of my family
The School s Guide to identifying and supporting a young carer in your class What is a young carer? Young carers are children and young people as young as five years old who provide regular and ongoing care to a family member who is physically or mentally ill, disabled or misuses substances. Schools are in a great position to recognise children who are acting in a caring capacity and to help support them Hillingdon Carers support young carers aged between 5-24 A young carer may undertake some or all of the following: Practical tasks: Physical care: Personal care: Emotional support: Household management: Sibling care: Interpretation: Administering medicine: Cooking, housework and shopping Lifting, helping up the stairs and physiotherapy Dressing, washing and toileting needs Listening, calming and being present Paying bills, collecting benefits and online banking Parenting, putting to bed and walking to school For hearing/speech impairment or language barriers Insulin injections, oxygen therapy or preparing daily tablets 5
74% OF YOUNG CARERS STATE THAT THEY ARE PERFORMING BETTER AT SCHOOL AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THEIR CONTACT WITH HILLINGDON CARERS Hillingdon young carers survey 2016 At young carers people listen when you speak to them and they care
The School s Guide to identifying and supporting a young carer in your class Improving performance in your school The impact of caring on young people Caring responsibilities can affect a young person in many different ways. Their physical health, emotional wellbeing, education and social opportunities can all be affected. Ofsted take particular interest in the experience of more vulnerable children, including young carers, during inspections. Edward Timpson - Minister for Children & Families, 2012 Supporting young carers in your school can: IMPROVE IMPROVE IMPROVE IMPROVE ATTENDANCE ATTAINMENT BEHAVIOUR CONTRIBUTION BUILD DEVELOP BUILD IMPROVE EXAM CONFIDENCE SOCIAL SKILLS RELATIONSHIPS RESULTS Educationally; young carers are suffering: 27% of young carers of secondary school age experience educational difficulties (Carers Trust 2013) 69% of Young Carers experience bullying at school (PRTC, 2010) Young carers have significantly lower educational attainment at GCSE- the equivalent to 9 grades lower overall than peers (Hidden from View 2013) Young carers aged 16-18 are twice as likely as their peers to be not in education, employment or training following school from their peers. Young carers offers a unique service to students who otherwise would not meet any kind of threshold for support. Rosedale Hewens Academy Trust 7
27% OF YOUNG CARERS (AGED 11-15) MISS SCHOOL OR EXPERIENCE EDUCATIONAL DIFFICULTIES Dearden & Becker, 2004 Caring feels easier to talk about now because I know it s nothing to be ashamed of
The School s Guide to identifying and supporting a young carer in your class Identifying hidden young carers You may think that you only have a small number of young carers in your school but the likelihood is there are many that remain hidden. They may be hidden because: The condition of the person they care for is not obvious so people do not realise they need help They do not realise that they are a young carer themselves or that their life is any different to their peers They don t want to be seen as different They are worried about bullying They worry that their family will be split up and they will be taken into care There has been no opportunity to share their circumstances They may not know who to ask for help 39% of young carers stated that nobody in their school was aware their caring role. Carers Trust, 2010 There are some signs that can help you to identify a young carer in your school: Often late with different or the same excuses Unable to complete homework on time or completed to a poor standard Parents have limited or no contact with schools, letters/forms not returned May often be tired or withdrawn/over sensitive/worried Difficulty concentrating in class Low self-esteem and/or lack confidence Clothing may not be clean/tidy or they lack basic equipment They are bullied or have few friends Unable to attend after school activities or trips Under achieving or not performing to their best Have physical problems such as back pain from lifting or heavy domestic tasks Have behavioural problems; they might be mature at home but frustrated or stressed at school Some young carers may not present any of these signs and in these cases the only way to know would be to start a conversation. 9
YOUNG CARERS SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED EARLY AND NOT LEFT TO STRUGGLE FOR YEARS BEFORE THEY FIND OUT ABOUT SUPPORT AVAILABLE Carers Trust, 2016 I used to feel insecure and found it hard to make friends but I came here and found it easier
The School s Guide to identifying and supporting a young carer in your class What you can do There are ways that the school and individual staff can help identify and support young carers Policy: A school lead: Enrolment: Awareness: Develop a school policy or protocol - examples are available from Hillingdon Carers Designate a school lead with responsibility for young carers, to champion their needs and coordinate policy Ask on new admission forms about any disabilities or other long term physical or mental health conditions in the family Raise awareness through assemblies, PSHE lessons, presentations to staff and governors or invite Hillingdon Young Carers to run PHSE workshops and talk at assemblies Staff & governor training: All staff and governors need to understand the issues young carers face. Hillingdon Carers can provide free training to schools Recognition: Refer: School nurse: Schools can take part in the Carers Trust Caring for Carers Schools Award scheme. Young Carers in Schools is an England-wide initiative that equips schools to support young carers and awards good practice Refer/signpost identified young carers to Hillingdon Young Carers service. We will make sure they get the right support Speak to your school nurse about how they can help to identify young carers 11
IN 2015/16, WE SUPPORTED 641 YOUNG CARERS AND PROVIDED OVER 2,500 BREAKS FOR THEM Hillingdon Carers They do loads of fun things and have no expectations so you can forget what s worrying you
The School s Guide to identifying and supporting a young carer in your class Our services TRIPS OUT Our school holiday activity programme provides a range of trips, clubs and physical and creative activities including half terms ONE TO ONE SUPPORT Help to achieve personal goals Information and advice Emotional support Advocacy WEEKENDS AWAY Trips away give young carers a break from their caring responsibilities. They often have no opportunities for family holidays YOUTH CLUBS Three after school clubs a week One Saturday youth club Trained sports coaches in all clubs Cooking and art workshops WORKSHOPS SPECIALIST SUPPORT FOR 17-24 YEAR OLDS Creative workshops dance, film, animation, photography, pottery and design Art and sports activities Team working and confidence building Cooking and healthy eating Support to access further education, employment, apprenticeships and training Job readiness CV writing, self-presentation, mock interviews Finance management and personal budgeting A bespoke social programme 13
ANYONE CAN REFER YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE YOUNG CARERS SERVICE WITH PARENTAL PERMISSION It is so reassuring that the service is there to offer support and a friendly ear when we need them Parent
The School s Guide to identifying and supporting a young carer in your class How to refer Our process: 1. Referral received by Hillingdon Young Carers Service 2. Information pack sent to family 3. Telephone call to arrange home visit where appropriate 4. Home visit to meet family 5. Pathway completed to plan future support for young carer and set personal goals 6. Support for adult carers offered where appropriate (entitlements, support groups, counselling etc.) 7. Free youth clubs and trips attendance for young carers! You can refer by: Telephone 01895 811206 Email office@hillingdoncarers.org.uk Via our website www.hillingdoncarers.org.uk In person at our advice centre 126 High Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1JT Or you can call us for advice or information about how your school can support young carers or book a visit or presentation from the team. 15
Young carers top ten tips Young carers regularly speak to us about the problems that they face at school. Here are their ideas about the changes that could help them: Natasha, aged 12 To recognise that our responsibility as carers can affect our education and school work Jamie, aged 15 Luliya, aged 13 Find out about us, what we need and how we are not like other students Take time to find out individual problems at home. Sometimes we are too embarrassed to tell you ourselves Abbie, aged 10 Don t automatically punish us if we are late. Sometimes we can t help being late because we are helping at home Sonu, aged 9 Gemma, aged 16 Let us have phones if we need to phone our parents Make sure there is a clear and up to date community board which has support information and where we can find it Vishali, aged 14 Daniel, aged 13 Provide more support, such as lunchtime drop-ins or homework clubs Include information about young carers and disability issues in PHSE lessons Keyshia, aged 15 Be more flexible - give us more time and help to do homework or course work Darren, aged 13 Give teachers training on young carers and disability issues on inset days Registered charity number: 1082297