Young carers

Definition

Someone who is 18 and under, who helps to look after a relative or someone who has a disability, illness, mental health condition, drug/alcohol condition. Parents and take care of siblings.

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Causes

Combination of environmental and social circumstances. Social are from everyday lives affecting lifestyle, young carers are both socially isolated and excluded. Environmental are due to surrounding environment, such as family circumstances.

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Progression

After 18, they are no longer legally young carers due to age.

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Physical impact

Tiredness due to demand of caring for sick family member and looking after siblings. Injury due to lifting or carrying.

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Intellectual impact

Keeping up to date with school work is hard due to demands at home , school work is affected and exam grades, less opportunities for work. Unable to join in with additional activities, like homework club, low educational attainment.

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Emotional

Reduced self esteem, self worth and concept. Stress and anxiety from demands of care, worry about family members health, concerned about other siblings, lack of self confidence as cant pursue anything on their own, resentment/guilt to family member.

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Social

Limited opportunities to socialise, lead to inability to interact with others and develop relationships, social isolation due to demands of care at home and having no time for friends, effect on relationship with family member as they may resent them

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Financial

Limited income if parent is unable to work, lack of opportunity to take part time job due to demands of care and no time

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Education barriers: Poor provision/access

School might not be aware of situation, so no extra provision is made to support them. May fall behind due to absences, missed lessons due to caring, also when at school a lack of concentration due to worrying about family member whos in someone care

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Poor provision/access 2

Affect future opportunities due to absences and lack of concentration, might not get high grades needed for future jobs, relationships with staff at school are affected as they are unaware they are a YC, hard to access transport to/from school

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Societal: Resulting from ignorance, prejudice and discrimination

YC can be discriminated against, people may not know they are a YC so might just think they dont want to socialise with others or always miss school. May cause them to be bullied as vulnerable, if they dont understand what they do, may discriminate.

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Societal: Social exclusion

YC can be socially excluded if their friends dont like how they dont have time too socialise, they might get used to them saying no when asked to come out, so they stop asking.

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Societal: Low expectations of ability

People may think YC have low expectations due to always being absent and missing lessons, but their education is only affected due to lack of concentration and demands of care, dont have learning difficulties.

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Societal: Societal expectation

YC may have societal expectations from society like having a job, but YC might not be able to get a job due to caring for family member, therefore they do not conform with expectations.

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Economic: Loss of earnings

YC may have loss of earnings if parent used to work then had to leave due to illness so YC wont have any income of their own, due to not being able to have own job.

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Economic: Requirement for specialist support not provided by state

Residential/nursing home care needed for family member, but due to cost wont be able to access it.

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Economic: Lack of access to benefits

YC may have lack of access to benefits if cant complete forms, lack of knowledge about them, so wont receive benefits they deserve.

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Economic: Access to benefits

YC may have access to benefits, if cant access part time work due to care demands, also if parent used to work they would have lack of income so should access benefits.

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Risks: Bullying

YC can be bullied at school as they cant go out or have to care for relative or collect sibling from school. Rude names or be teased about it, missing school might be behind so called stupid.

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Risks: Abuse

YC can be abused by relative and others. Relative might not like how they are being treated or cared for, could be hit or pushed if they dont want to do something, they could be stressed so take it out on YC. Verbally abused if relative has MHP

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Risks: Stress

YC can be stressed if they have too many things to do and it becomes too much for them. They have no times for themselves and always caring for others, making them under pressure.

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Risks: Self harm

YC can self harm if are bullied or stressed and only form of release.

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Risks:isolation/exclusion

YC can be isolated or excluded as cant go out with friends due to caring for relative, friends stop inviting them out.

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Legislation: equality act

Protects people from being discriminated against in work and school, provides legal rights for people, ensures they arent discriminated against for situation, and if they are then action can be taken, makes them feel safe and protected.

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Legisaltion: Care standards act

Aims to promote high standards of care and protects vulnerable people, helps them to be provided highest standard of care as possible and are well treated when receiving help.

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Legislation: Childrens act

Aims to ensure that children are protected from harm and are safe and care for in schools. Helps to protect them in education and ensures they receive same education as everyone else. Bullying can be acted upon.

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Policies/codes of practice: School bullying policy

Anti-bullying policy for students ensuring that they are safe and protected and that they are happy at school. If YC is being bullied, staff can intervene and make sure its dealt with and they are happy.

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Policies/codes of practice: Young carers rights

Charter that cares for and protects YC, gets people to recognise YC are also treatment and deserve same rights as other children and young people. Like schools and colleges giving them the support they need to get an education, right to become adults

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Service provision:Schools

SEN provision for YC, IEP so that childs needs are met, ensure that they have strategies to manage the child and include differentiation. Needs to be involved and lessons should be planned around that, have selected times when removed from class

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Service provision: Schools 2

and have a break or care for family member. SENCO should be aware of childs needs prior to them starting school, TA and teachers trained for the childs needs.

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Service provision: Day care

YC family member may use day care facilities, travel and interact with others providing social contact and chance to socialise. Charities or local authorities provide care.

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Service provision: Respite care

YC family member might need respite care to give them a break for caring for them and give them a break too. Allows them to have the opportunity to take part in activities they want to do but dont have a chance.

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Service provision: Domiciliary care

YC family member might use this if they cannot do day to day tasks. Allows them to stay in their own home, but can be costly.

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Practitioners: Social worker

Provide support and work closely with other practitioners to provide care and complete needs. Provided by state, voluntary and privately.

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Practitioners: school pastoral systems

Provide coaching and mentoring about being a YC, how to deal with it and juggle school and home life, provides them with someone to talk to that they feel safe around, young carer support group or buddies to socialise with.

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Practitioners: Educational welfare officer

Work with staff at school to raise awareness of situation to ensure all needs are covered, ensure that they get personalised provision of the curriculum and reduced school day to care for family member

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Practitioners: Class teachers

YC needs to be at home so they should send work home for them, lunch time catch up sessions should be available.

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Practitioners: Social services

Provide carers for family member for when YC is not there, so respite if necessary and access to help support YC and someone to talk to and emotional support.

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Practitioners: Counsellor

Talk to and provide them with emotional support, help to provide strategies to come to terms with their feelings.

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Practitioners: Support groups

Provide events, training, YC festival, web chats, local carers project, local services like sport clubs and websites for extra support and things to do.

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Psychological LQF: social contact

YC need social contact so they dont become isolated

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Psychological LQF: Psychological security

YC need to know that they are safe and feel relaxed, when domciliary carer or nurse takes care of relative when at school.

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Psychological LQF: Equitable treatment

YC need to be treated the same as others despite having a different lifestyle

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Psychological LQF: effective communication

Need to feel that they are being listened too.

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Psychological LQF: Confidentiality

Need to know that its confidential as dont want others to know as might be discriminated against

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Physical LQF: Nutrition

Need nutrition as they are young so need all nutrition to keep them fit and healthy.

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Physical LQF: Physical comfort

Need physical comfort like heating and essentials at all times.

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Physical LQF: Physical safety and hygiene

YC should be checked regularly to ensure they are safe and supported.

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Caring skills: Communication

Need to know they are being listened too and need someone to talk to to discuss any worries they may have as they might not be able to discuss it with family member

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Caring skills: Creating trust

Need to know they can trust people as may be excluded and isolated.

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Caring skills: Physical contact

YC need physical contact to calm them and provide them with comfort

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Caring skills: Showing approval

Need approval to provide them with encouragement and praise, boosting their self confidence and helping with stress and depression.

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Young carers

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Card 3

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Card 4

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Other cards in this set

Card 2

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Back

Card 3

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Card 4

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Back

Card 5

Front

Back

Comments

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