Young Carers

Definition of a young carer:

A Young Carer is a child or young person under the age of 18, who provides regular and on going care and/or emotional support to a family member who is physically or mentally ill, disabled, and/or misuses substances. Young carers may assist an adult to care for another adult or a sibling with disabilities.

Impact on young person:

The young person is negatively impacted as a result of their care role, in any of the following areas:

Physical/Mental wellbeing Education attainment Emotional and Behavioural Development Family and Social/Peer relationships (www.barnardos.org.uk)

Being a Young Carer can be hard and often they feel they don’t have enough time for themselves to go out with their friends, to hand homework in on time, or to attend after school clubs or to attend school trips.

What might a young carer do?

Practical tasks, such as cooking, housework and shopping.
Physical care, such as helping someone out of bed.
Emotional support, such as talking to someone who is distressed.
Personal care, such as helping someone dress.
Managing the family budget and collecting prescriptions.
Helping to give medicine.
Helping someone communicate.
Looking after brothers and sisters. (https://carers.org/about-us/about-young-carers)

We can offer you:-

1:1 support with the school counsellor so that you can have a place to talk in private about how it feels to be a young carer and they may offer you advice and information to support you.

We can help you with any difficulties you are having in school as a result of being a young carer.

We can also help you and your family access other services for support such as Family Action if you and your family want us to.

If you would like more information please speak to the school counsellor, your Learning Coordinators or any other member of staff. What you say to them will remain confidential unless you want them to share the information or they think you or someone else is at risk of significant harm.

Ferryhill Business & Enterprise College

YOUNG CARERS CHARTER

Definition of a Young Carer

A young person under 18 years of age who helps to look after a family member who is disabled, physically and mentally ill, have learning difficulties, or is alcohol dependant or has a substance misuse problem. They may provide practical and/or emotional care that would ordinarily be expected of an adult. It goes beyond the level of simply helping out at home as part of the process of growing up.

We at Ferryhill Business & Enterprise College will:

- Designate two members of staff who have special responsibility for Young Carers.
- Raise awareness of the challenges young carers face through assemblies and leaflets.
- Ensure all students and staff know what help is available to Young Carers in and out of school.
- Ensure staff are aware of the warning signs that may indicate that a pupil has unrecognised responsibilities and may be a young carer.
- Be sensitive to young carers needs as they don’t always want their peers to know.
- Respect the rights and feelings of Young Carers and only share information with those who need to know in order to help unless the young carer is at risk of significant harm.
- Liaise with external agencies with the consent of the young person and parent or person with parental responsibility.
- Provide the Young Carer with a “Young Carers Card” which will identify any help the young carer requires in school.
- Be accessible to parents/carers who have mobility/communication difficulties and involve them in parents evenings etc.
- Help to set up and support a Young Carers support group in school where young carers can talk to other young carers.
- Encourage all young people to respect young carers and their right to privacy.

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