Support for young carers

Who is a young carer?

Young carers are children and young people, aged 18 and under, who provide care, help or support to someone who cannot manage independently. This may be due to a disability, long-term illness, mental ill-health or drug or alcohol dependency.

Young carers may provide support directly to the person or may be supporting others affected, such as younger siblings. The person getting care from a young carer is usually an adult parent, but can also be a sibling or other relative needing support.

 

What's it like to be a young carer?

Caring for a family member can be very rewarding, but also hard work. Young carers often have to look after themselves too, and can find it difficult to keep up with school work, go out with friends and stay healthy.

Sometimes young carers feel different from other children and young people and can be very isolated. These things can have a big impact. Difficulties at school can affect attainment levels and future prospects.

 

 

How many young carers are there in Aberdeenshire?

It is estimated that there are over 100,000 young carers in Scotland - which is 1 in 10 of the school age population.

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers think there may be around 3,075 young carers in Aberdeenshire. Accurate figures are difficult to get due to the hidden nature of caring. We believe there are likely to be young carers who are currently not recognised in Aberdeenshire.

 

 

Assessment of a young carer’s needs

Young carers have a right to have their needs assessed and be involved in planning to meet their needs.

The Integrated Assessment Framework is the model we use for assessing your needs and planning the support you need.

 

Support for young carers at school

Schools have an important role in identifying young carers and making sure they have the same learning opportunities as other pupils.

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, in partnership with The Children’s Society, has produced Supporting young carers: a resource for schools.

This resource will guide your school through the steps needed to support you as a young carer - from developing an understanding of your caring role, to strategic and practical support and building a healthy school environment where you can flourish.

 

Keeping well

Young carers are at risk of physical and mental ill health because of their caring role. For example you:

• may suffer from lack of sleep because you are up during the night
• may have a bad back from lifting and carrying
• might not be eating properly or getting out and about enough

 

Stress and anxiety may well be an issue and can result in long-term mental health problems. Young carers are often looking after adults with mental health problems like depression, or are looking after brothers and sisters because their parents are problematic drug and alcohol users. This can have a huge toll on your health.

Young carers need information about the health needs of the person they care for. Health Boards are required by law to produce a carers information strategy. Health professionals need to acknowledge a young carer’s contribution and can help to keep you informed.

If you are a young carer, you may be able to talk to your guidance teacher or school nurse. If you are not sure who to talk to, have a look at the Young Carers website where you will find lots of information and advice. You can also call Childline free on 0800 1111.

 

Aberdeenshire Young Carers Support Service

CAIR Scotland now provide young carers support across Aberdeenshire. The service offers confidential support to any young carer below 18 years of age. They provide support on a one-to-one basis and encourage peer support through group activities, giving young people and their families respite.

For more information, please contact:

CAIR Scotland
Thainstone Business Centre
Thainstone
Inverurie
AB51 5TB

Tel: 01467 620582
Email: ycs@cairscotland.org.uk

 

Strategic planning support for carers

The Scottish Government is determined to make sure carers are supported to manage their caring responsibilities with confidence and in good health, and to have a life of their own outside of caring. They have developed a strategy for young carers - Getting it Right for Young Carers”: The Young Carers Strategy for Scotland 2010 - 2015 alongside “Caring Together”: The Carers Strategy for Scotland 2010 – 2015.

Getting it Right for Young Carers is intended to result in better outcomes for young carers and is thought to be the first ever national young carers’ strategy in Europe. It recognises that many children and young people can benefit from providing care. But the focus is to make sure young carers are relieved of inappropriate caring roles and are supported to be children and young people first.

In Aberdeenshire, we have a multi-agency strategy group tasked with making sure this strategy in implemented locally.

Caring Together sets out ten actions to improve support to carers over the next five years. The focus is on improved identification of carers, assessment, information and advice, health and well-being, carer support, participation and partnership.