Young Carers and Education Tracey Pead Head of Pupil support Torfaen Education representative on YC group

What the new Carers Strategies (Wales) Measure 2010 wants to ensure Carers are identified Carers are given the information they need Carers know that they may have a legal right to a needs assessment Signpost carers to other sources of advice and support

Definition  ‘Young carers are children and young persons under 18 who provide, or intend to provide, care, assistance or support to another family member. They carry out, often on a regular basis, significant or substantial caring tasks and assume a level of responsibility, which would usually be associated with an adult. The person receiving care is often a parent but can be a sibling, grandparent or other relative who is disabled, has some chronic illness, mental health problem or other condition connected with a need for care, support or supervision. ’Becker, S (2000)’ ‘young Carers’, in Davies,M (ed.)

What do our YCs do? Whilst we acknowledge that helping out around the house is a normal part of growing up, we are aware that young carers regularly carry out significant caring tasks and assume a level of responsibility which is often inappropriate to their age. The person they look after will have one or more of the following:  Physical disability (including sensory disability)  Learning disability  Mental health problem  Chronic illness  Substance misuse problem

What should schools aim to do? School’s aim is to identify their young carers or pupils at risk of becoming young carers before they become entrenched in an inappropriate caring role or a negative relationship with our school

What should schools do? Recognise the importance of carers and ensuring they are valued and supported Identify carers and improve their access to information and services through a partnership approach (signposting) All staff need to be aware of carers and where to signpost for help and support (reception staff, EWOs, teachers, LSAs, dinner ladies) Recognise the importance of: Improving physical and mental well being Realise that young carers will eventually become adult carers so they need support early on Treat carers and young as equal partners Input into service delivery that affects them and the people they are caring for

And remember!  Many young carers will take on additional responsibilities to those appropriate to their age and development. A young carer might be providing the main care or share responsibilities with another family member. The caring tasks that a young carer has to deal with can range from:  Child care – taking responsibility for younger siblings in addition to their other caring responsibilities. Some young carers help parents look after a disabled sibling.  Domestic care – doing a substantial amount of housework, cooking, shopping, cleaning, laundry etc.  Emotional care – being compliant, monitoring the emotional state of the person cared for, listening, being a shoulder to cry on, supporting a parent through depression and trying to cheer them up.  Financial care – running the household, paying bills, benefit collection, etc.  Nursing care – giving medication, injections, changing dressings, assisting with mobility etc.  Personal intimate care – washing, dressing, feeding and helping with toilet requirements

Impact on Young People Taking on a caring role can mean facing a life of poverty, isolation, frustration, ill health and depression The majority of carers struggle alone, remain hidden and do not know that help is available to them Although Young and adult Carers may face similar issues, many young carers also have distinct needs Carers saves the economy billions per year Young Carers will eventually become adult carers so may need support now and during the transition into adulthood. If we don’t look at supporting carers now then they may end up being the ‘cared for’.

Young carers do not form a homogenous group with clearly defined or uniform responsibilities. We must understand that the amount and type of care they provide can vary enormously from one young carer to another and does not predict how far the health, well-being or education of each young carer may be affected

Possible negative effects for YCs We recognise that because of their responsibilities at home, a young carer might experience:  Being late or absent due to responsibilities at home  Concentration problems, anxiety or worry in school  Emotional distress  Tiredness in school  Lack of time for homework  Poor attainment  Physical problems such as back pain from lifting  False signs of maturity, because of assuming adult roles  Behavioural problems (taking out their anger or frustration)  Lack of time for extra-curricular activities  Isolation, embarrassed to take friends home  Limited social skills  Bullying  Feeling that no one understands and that no support is available  Low self esteem

Schools need to …..  Appreciates that young carers may not wish to discuss their family situation unless they feel comfortable.  The young person’s caring role will be acknowledged and respected.  Treat young carers in a sensitive and child-centred way, upholding confidentiality.  Ensure young carers can access all available support services in school.  Follow child protection procedures regarding any young carer at risk of significant harm due to inappropriate levels of caring.  Promote discussion and learning in all areas of the curriculum to facilitate fuller understanding, acceptance of and respect for the issues surrounding illness, disability and caring.  Name a designated member of staff to champion YCs within school and act as a SPOC.

Support and Provision  Access to a telephone during breaks and lunchtime, to phone home  Negotiable deadlines for homework / coursework (when needed)  Access to homework clubs (where these are available)  Lunchtime detentions rather than after school detentions (where possible)

Support and Provision  Lunchtime detentions rather than after school detentions (where possible)  Arrangements will be made for schoolwork to be sent home (when there is a genuine crisis)  Ensure access for parents with impaired mobility.  Provide alternative communication options for parents who are sensory impaired or housebound.  Provide advice to parents if there are difficulties in transporting a young carer to school

Things to Remember for Parents It might also be difficult to engage their parents (due to fears about the child / young person being taken into care, fears about their condition being misunderstood or their parenting skills being called into question). Parents may be unable to attend parents’ evenings

Tracking Educational Achievement  YCs should are identified as part of the Estyn vulnerable groups  Their attainment should be tracked by schools and LAs  We have 53 YCs identified in Torfaen schools  Under-identification is an issue  We track the attainment of all YCs through a Prime reporting system accessible to all schools  All KS2 carers achieved the Level % CSI 14/15

Young Carers have rights!! United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child The Rights of Children and Young Persons Measure (Wales)

Young carers give top ten tips for schools 1. Recognise that our responsibility as carers can affect our education and schoolwork. 2. Find out about us, what we need and how we are not like other students. 3. Take time to find out about individual problems at home. Sometimes we’re too embarrassed to tell you ourselves. 4. Don’t automatically punish us if we’re late. Sometimes we can’t help being late because we’re helping out at home. 5. Provide more support such as lunchtime drop-ins or homework clubs. 6. Be flexible – give us more time and help to do homework or coursework. 7. Include information about young carers and disability issues in PHSE lessons. 8. Let us phone parents if we need to find out if they are OK. 9. Make sure there is a clear and up to date community notice board, which has support information for us and where else we can get help in the community. 10. Ensure teachers are offered training on young carers and disability issues both at university and on inset days. Source: Young Carers Festival

Who is responsible? All of us!!! 18