We have a dedicated team who work specifically with young carers, they are called Young Carers’ Family Support Workers. They help young carers in a variety of ways including:
Young Carers
What is a young carer?
- Practical tasks, such as cooking, housework and shopping.
- Physical care, such as lifting, helping a parent on stairs or with physiotherapy.
- Personal care, such as dressing, washing, helping with toileting needs.
- Managing the family budget, collecting benefits and prescriptions.
- Administering medication.
- Looking after or “parenting” younger siblings.
- Emotional support.
- Interpreting, due to a hearing or speech impairment or because English is not the family’s first language.
- Some young carers may undertake high levels of care, whereas for others it may be frequent low levels of care. Either can impact heavily on a child or young
person
What do Young Carers' Family Support Workers do?
- Giving advice and support if you have any problems such as personal or health problems or bullying that you want to talk about in confidence.
- Organising free events and activities so you can get out and enjoy yourself and also meet other young carers who may be going through a similar experience toyou.
- If you have problems with school, then we can talk to your school to help them understand your situation and become more flexible with school work and homework.
- Help you with any problems you may have with social services or health authorities.
- Give you information about the condition of the person you care for, what their medication does to them and details of other organisations who can help and support you.
- If you have any special hobbies or interests we can try and arrange for you to continue with these.
- Organise young carers’ help groups which may help with feelings of low self esteem, anxiety or lack of confidence.