Liverpools Approach to Young Carers 0 25 Jane

Liverpool’s Approach to Young Carers ( 0 -25 ) Jane Weller Commissioning and Contract Manager Liverpool City Council Louise Wardale Keeping the Family in Mind Coordinator Barnardo’s Action with Young Carers Liverpool

In Partnership with …

Where the journey began… Why work in partnership … “They say things like ‘we only work with your mum’ but my mum lives with me so its all connected”. “ Its difficult enough living with mental health problems, but it feels like me and the kids have all our problems separated out and then no one gets the whole picture and sees how we are all affected”.

Who are young carers? Young Carers are children and young people under the age of 18, who provide care to another family member usually an adult, who has a physical illness/disability; mental ill health; sensory disability; has problematic use of drugs or alcohol. The level of care they provide would usually be undertaken by an adult and as a result of this has a significant impact on their normal childhood.

A young carer is defined in law … As a ‘person under 18 who provides or intends to provide care to another person’. This includes; ‘providing practical or emotional support’ which is ‘not under or by virtue of a contract or of voluntary work’ (Children and Families Act, 2014) More broadly, a carer is ‘somebody who provides support or who looks after a family member, partner or friend and who needs help because of their age, physical or mental illness or disability’ ( Care Act 2014)

The Children and Families Act & The Care Act Together, both Acts provide a clear framework for LA’s to take a whole family approach – • To assessing and supporting adults and young carers • Delivering support in a coordinated whole family way • CYP at risk of undertaking inappropriate caring roles are identified and protected • Amends Children Act 1989 & Duty to assess young carers on appearance of need

Early Help – everybody’s business - as are Young Carers ! • 2007 - Liverpool introduced the CAF and Team Around the Child to provide opportunities to bring together individual assessments giving an overview of family strengths, risks, relationships and needs • 2013 - CAF became EHAT which provided a more robust, integrated, whole family framework to bring adult and children’s services together creating resourceful and resilient families • The EHAT Framework and Team Around the Family framework can provide a good basis for taking a whole family approach to the identification, assessment and support of children and young people impacted and young carers

Key figures about young carers • • 166, 363 YC’s in England – Census 2011 BBC Research ( 2010) - 700, 000 Liverpool – over 5, 100 under 25 years = 3. 5% of that group 1 in 12 caring for more than 15 hours per week 1 in 12 secondary school pupils are carers 1 in 20 miss school due to caring role Average annual income for families with a YC is £ 5, 000 less than families who do not have a YC • YC’s have significantly lower educational attainment at GCSE level – equivalent to 9 grades lower than peers • YC’s more likely to be NEET ( 16 – 19 years) • Over 60% report being bullied

Young carers tell us that they… • • • have no one to talk to are scared to tell anyone about their home circumstances are tired and hungry, frightened and isolated are stigmatised, ashamed and guilty are worried about things like finances or being put into care looking after siblings as well as parents have difficulty getting to school on time/stay in the whole day find it difficult to concentrate and hold on to their tempers need in information and explanations lack confidence

Key issues for parents • • • fear of losing children, reality of it happening uncertainty & complexity feeling of being ‘on trial’ about parenting abilities fear of asking for help isolation and stigma impossibility of parenting without family and social networks

Caution …. hidden carers Young Carers remain hidden for many reasons including: • they do not realise that they are a carer or that their life is different to their peers • their parent’s do not realise that their children are carers • they worry that the family will be split up and taken into care • they don’t want to be any different from their peers • their parent’s condition is not obvious so people don’t think that they need any help • there has been no opportunity to share their story • They see no reason or positive actions occurring as a result of telling their story

Advice, Information and Guidance Request for a Young Carers Assessment Contact Barnardo’s Action with Young Carers 0151 228 4455 youngcarers. liverpool@barnardos. org. uk Contact the Early Help Hubs

Pathway for Young Carers & Young Adult Carers Working to ensure ‘no wrong door’ for young carers and their families

LEVEL 2 Pre-EHAT/CSSA* received and screened * Carers Supported Self Assessment YC Initial Statutory Assessment (Part 1) MACA and PANOC completed YAC – eligibility established Allocated to project worker to complete CSSA or statutory YC Assessment Locality Hub School/FE/HE EHAT/support plan Team around the Family Level 1 or 2 Level 3 Level 4 Statutory Review No negative Impact of Caring Universal Support/EHAT considered Targeted Offer Low Negative impact of caring EHAT Step Down Level 2 Step Up Specialist Offer Allocated Worker Outcomes and Young Carer/YAC support plan reviewed Information gathered about other Services involved across adults and children’s r o 1 2 1 o r 2 LEVEL 3 Part 2 Young Carer Assessment/CSSA completed and support plan agreed with 4 options Level 3 LEVEL 4 Careline/Children’s Social Care Statutory Intervention (in line with LSCB Levels of Need Guidance)

Support offered following assessment • 1 -1 support, someone to talk to who will listen • Support around emotional health and well-being • Group work (focused/targeted) to promote peer support and reduce isolation • Participation in service design • Information and advice about illness and disabilities of the cared for person • • Breaks from caring & opportunity to meet other young carers • Support around education, employment and training • Access to support for the cared for • Emergency planning • Multi agency work to ensure a whole family approach • Tailored information and advice • Carers Direct Payments (YAC’s) • Ensuring they are empowered and supported to be involved in plans and decision making that affects them (their support plan and the assessment of the person they care for. )

Outcomes are set in partnership with Young Carer and their Family, with particular focus on : • Health Wellbeing and Home Life • Employment Education and Finance • Participation and Engagement We use a Range of validated tools to set and review (distance travelled): • MACA – YC 18, PANOC – YC 20 • Outcomes Stars • WEMWBS (for YACS) Needs led - young carers and family’s self-identified support needs and plan.

The journey continues… young carers voices … “I do want to say that the word assessment is not one that is used by young people or the project workers as we understand assessment to mean something that you pass or fail” “I think if a social worker had asked me all the questions, I would have been frightened that we would be taken into care. I would be frightened about how they were going to use the information” “I was scared before coming to Barnardo’s because I didn’t get it explained to me by my social worker”

What really helps ? • Taking a whole family approach means that underlying issues can be addressed • No wrong door … ‘Can you see me, can you hear me? …. then why did you ignore me? ’

Contact details. . . • Barnardo's Action with Young Carers Service 0151 228 4455 youngcarers. liverpool@barnardos. org. uk • Jane Weller • Louise Wardale louise. wardale@barnardos. org. uk jane. weller@liverpool. gov. uk