Carers in Hertfordshire Young Carers Scrutiny Meeting 18 th November 2010

Young Carers Project Staff Chief Executive Officer – Sue Reeve Cindy Honour – Project Manager Marie Freeman – School Development Worker Cheryll Jones – Project Co-ordinator

Project Overview Funded by Herts County Council, CSF and Hertfordshire NHS Development & Support service since young carers registered with Project

Young Carers Service: The Project provides services for young carers 9-18 years Help, Support, Information Free trips and Activities Two Young Carers Councils Annual Young Carers Conference.

Referrals: Referrals are received from All services, including CSF ACS Schools Other Statutory & Voluntary Services Self Referrals

Safeguarding Adopt Policies of HCC as required in service contract. Staff, volunteers, trustees are CRB Checked Staff receive CP Training. CEO Named person for safeguarding Any concerns reported internally and to CSF Reviewing practice against East of England Safeguarding Standards and NSPCC Firstcheck guide

Equal Opportunities Equality and diversity policy applies to recruitment and service delivery Data monitored to evaluate service delivery Feedback used to improve service i.e. all girls and all boys activity. Equality Impact Assessment to do

What we do – how we do it! Referrals/Home Visits Referrals received from across agencies Self Referrals Home visit undertaken Needs identified/appropriate referrals made to other agencies/support groups Request to schools for further support

654 young carers known to the Project and receiving information District Figures: Broxbourne 37Dacorum73 East Herts49Hertsmere54 N. Herts92St. Albans65 Stevenage 129Three Rivers32 Watford36Wel/Hatfield 87

Trips/Activities/Information Period October 2009 – September 2010 Annual Programme 14 trips 243 places Annual Conference Young Carers Website/quarterly newsletters Young Carers DVD’s

Trips have included: Art Workshops Quaser All girls beauty day Outdoor activity sessions Lazer Paintballing Thorpe Park Zoo And Still to come: Ski Snow Centre Karting And Much More!

Young Carers Councils: 8 members on the Senior Council 10 members on the Junior Council 5 new members joining in November The Councils meet at least once a quarter and more often when planning the annual conference or other events.

Partnership Work With: CSF Schools Extended School District Partnership Networks School Governors Community Groups

School Work Prevention 513 funded until ended Secondary Schools: Assemblies/PHSE lessons. 20 Secondary schools in the County offer support in school time through: Drop-in sessions One-to-one work Young Carers Support Groups 6 Transfer Plans completed.

Primary Schools Working in partnership to identify and set-up support systems for young carers in Primary and Junior schools 8 Primary schools providing support

After School Groups have been and are being set up by working in partnership with Connexions, CSF Personal Assistants and Extended Schools Co- ordinators. A Full list of these groups can be found on Support Groups

Strategy Development Strong Partnership approach Children First/Think Family Involvement of Young Carers Listening /recognising needs Outcome based accountability developing

Issues And Challenges Loss of Funding for School Development Work Extend Partnership work and local support Lack of targeted support for years young adult carers Project capacity to respond to increasing numbers of young carers