www barnetcarers org Barnet Carers Centre Barnet Carers

www. barnetcarers. org Barnet Carers Centre @Barnet. Carers SERVICES FOR ADULT AND YOUNG CARERS Maivel Rodriguez Lopez Head of Carers Services Rebecca Prangley Senior Young Carers Support & Outreach Officer

Who are we? Barnet Carers Centre was established in 1996 and is a network partner of Carers Trust. We are an independent charity based in North Finchley that offers advice, information, emotional and practical support to all informal carers living in the London Borough of Barnet. Objectives Ø Ensure shared understanding about who carers are, the responsibilities and the potential impacts of caring Ø Information on the needs of Young Siblings Ø Statistics on carers, hidden carers and identification Ø Adult Carers Support Team Services - Provide information about the support services available for Young Carers Ø Young Carers Support Team Services - Provide information about the support services available for Young Carers

Who we can support – Carers Services Young Carers Support Team § § Senior Young Carers Support and Outreach Officer Young Carers Support & Outreach Officer (x 2) Young Carers Support & Activities Officer Primary Young Carers Support Worker Adult Carers Support Team ‘Changes’ Project § ‘Changes’ Coordinator § § Senior Adult Carers Support & Outreach Officer (x 2)

WHO ARE CARERS? “A Carer is an unpaid person who takes responsibility for looking after a child or adult who is frail, physically disabled, has learning difficulties, sensory impairment, mental illness or whose health is affected by sickness or old age”

Who are Young Carers? A Young Carer is someone under 18 who cares for a relative due to an illness, disability, mental health condition or drug/alcohol addiction Siblings are young people who grow up with a brother/sister with any of the above. They can be affected by the needs of their brother or sister Young carers take on practical and/or emotional caring responsibilities that would normally be expected of an adult - The Children’s Society

Types of Carers Primary Secondary Cared for Primary Carer Secondary Carer Sibling Primary Carer Sibling Cared for Primary Carer

RESPONSIBILITIES, IMPACTS AND FEELINGS In 2’s or 3’s please discuss the below areas : PARENTS • Responsibilities for parents supporting a child with Special Educational Needs • Impacts of caring • Feelings SIBLINGS • Responsibilities for siblings supporting their brother or sister with Special Educational Needs • Impacts of caring • Feelings

What are a Young Carers responsibilities? Domestic Tasks A young carer may be required to do household chores and cooking. They may need to pay bills, go to doctors appointments and collect prescriptions. Physical/Personal Care A young carer may need to lift the person they are caring for. They may need to help get someone dressed or washed.

Emotional Support A young carer is sometimes the only one a parent can confide in. They may need cheering up or calming down. The young carer can sometimes worry about the person they care for. Sibling Care Siblings often have similar issues to Young Carers.

The needs of young siblings www. sibs. org. uk Young siblings’ experiences Growing up with a brother or sister who is disabled or who has special educational needs, or a serious long term condition, has much in common with all sibling relationships – rivalry, loyalty, fairness issues, and having fun together. When one sibling is disabled these feelings may be more intense. Siblings want to have ordinary lives and to have positive relationships with their disabled brothers and sisters. They also want their disabled brothers and sisters to get the support they need so that they can have ordinary lives too.

POSITIVES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SIBLINGS Siblings play a huge role in the lives of their disabled brothers and sisters – in their social lives, in supporting with their care, in advocating for them, and in helping them develop new skills. These roles can be very beneficial to siblings’ own social and personal development • • Some of the positive attributes and experiences acquired by siblings are: Learning new skills Social competence Appreciation Being advocates

NEGATIVES AND CHALLENGES FOR SIBLINGS However the role can also come at a cost to siblings’ wellbeing and educational progress. • • • Less attention from parents Isolation and social exclusion Not understanding the disability or condition Coping with mixed feelings Being a young carer Dealing with challenging behaviour - Siblings of children with challenging behaviour may get hurt physically and emotionally hurt by their brother or sister. Siblings may feel frightened of their brother or sister or of their parent getting hurt

What are the impacts of caring? nd I don’t understa aves why Becky beh es? the way she do g to n i l g g tru ally s work done e r m I’ home noisy. I y m t so ge ah is me was r a S – my ho wish like Billy’s quiet dy Nobo s me d rstan e d n u I hope Becky is okay today in school? Mr Ro bi I’m lat ns said if e ag get an ain I’ll ho detent ur ion I’d love to go to the park but D ad always busy helping Sarah I really wish I could go to Billy’s birth day party, but I h ave to go to an appoin tment with mum fo r Becky

What are the impacts of caring? Caring can affect a young person’s: • Physical health • Emotional wellbeing • Socialisation • Stable environment This can impact on school attendance, attainment and wellbeing of young carers

PARENTAL AND SIBLING SUPPORT PARENTAL SUPPORT PROGRAMMES Resources and Tools • • • Mencap Resources for Autism Education Trust Programme SIBS website – www. sibs. org. uk BYCAS – Barnet Young Carers and Siblings

HOW DOES CARING AFFECT YOUR LIFE? Although for many carers, caring can have positive and rewarding aspects, there are lots of reasons why caring can leave you needing support. Ø Getting out and about Ø Money and benefits Ø Working and learning Ø Health and Wellbeing

FACTS & FIGURES Ø There around seven million Carers in the UK – that is one in ten people. This is rising. Ø 14% of Carers (approx. 840, 000) care for people with learning disabilities including autistic-spectrum conditions. Ø In the 2011 Census in Barnet there were 32, 300 adult carers. 5923 of those are Registered with Barnet Carers Centre

Facts & Figures The 2011 Census identified 166, 363 young carers in England – one in 8 was under the age of ten. The Census in 2011 revealed in Barnet there are just under 4, 000 young carers. BYCAS currently has 700 young carers and siblings registered as members. BUT many young carers are hidden. BBC research suggests as many as one in 12 secondary aged pupils are young carers. 35% of young carers said that nobody in their school was aware of their caring role.

So why are so many young carers hidden? Lots of reasons, including: • Young carers do not realise that they are a carer • They don’t want to be any different from their peers so they don’t draw attention to their caring role. • They want to keep their identity at school separate from their caring role. • It’s not the sort of thing they feel they can discuss with their friends. • There has been no opportunity to share their story. • They are worried about bullying. • They worry that the family will be split up and that they will be taken into care. • They want to keep caring a secret and/or are embarrassed. • They see no reason to tell their story

Young Carers in Schools (YCi. S) Programme Young Carers in Schools is run jointly by Carers Trust and The Children’s Society. The Barnet Young Carers Support Team is working in partnership to deliver the Young Carers in Schools Programme within our borough. The Young Carers in Schools programme works to improve the identification and support of young carers in schools using a whole school approach and encourages schools to proactively maintain links with their local carers’ service. How does the programme equip schools to meet young carers’ needs? Through the programme, schools will have access to: A baseline review – enabling you to prioritise what to do next, this tool contains helpful signposts to the programme materials most relevant and useful to you. Supporting Young Carers in Schools: A Step-by-step Guide for Leaders Young Carers in Schools Award –enabling your school to gain recognition for effective practice

Barnet Young Carers and Siblings What do we offer? § Monthly hubs and social events (hosting workshops such as: sports sessions, photography, dance & drama, film-making and more) § Trips and outings (previous trips have included: ice-skating, bowling, Mega. Jump, go-karting, Thorpe Park, rock-climbing, kayaking and more) § Access to a Barnet Leisure Pass § 1: 1 Mentoring with a Young Carers Team Member § Drop-in sessions § Information and support § CAFs § Signposting e. g SIBS - www. sibs. org. uk

Primary Young Carers Project in Partnership with BBC Children in Need The project provides support for isolated primary young carers aged 5 -17 who are registered with Barnet Carers Centre. It seeks to reduce their isolation and increase their life chances by removing the personal or family related barriers which may be stopping them from accessing support services independently. What does the project offer? ² Social activities (transport available upon request) ² Arts & Crafts Social (2 sessions per month) ² Cultural outings (throughout the year, we host a variety of events and day trips to promote young carers’ social engagement and cultural awareness) ² Tuition (through our volunteer tutors, we offer an after -school tuition service to support young carers with a variety of subjects) ² 1: 1 Mentoring

Changes Project The project is aimed for Young Adult Carers (YACs) aged 16 -25 who are in the transitional stage of their lives. Through the project, we hope to help YACs feel supported and confident in their caring role but also offer guidance with helping them make important decisions for their future. We do this by providing support and information surrounding employment, further education and training. What does the project offer? ² Life Skills Events (including CV Writing, Interview Skills, Money Management, Options for HE. Training and Apprenticeships) ² Trips and Events ² Support (including 1 -1 sessions, 10 free counselling sessions) ² Arts Award (10 free spaces for a qualification for those interested in creative or performing arts)

The Young Carers Referral and Assessment Process Referral comes through to Young Carers Team (schools, social care/CAF team, voluntary sectors, selfreferrals, Adult Carers Team) Family provided with followup and support plan from allocated YC Officer YC able to access all support offered by Young Carers Support & Outreach Team Referral is inputted onto YC Referral Tracker YC and Family Assessment inputted onto YC database. YC provided with Carer ID number Allocated YC Officer for statutory assessment to carry out follow-up every 3 months to get update on family’s needs for one year Family contacted and home visit is scheduled to complete YC & Family Assessment YC and Family Assessment completed during visit. Family provided with service information (assessment to gather details of caring carried out and the impact on YC)

Adult Carers Support Team Our Carer Support Officers will: Complete a Carers Needs Assessment and help you to develop a Support Plan to address your key needs. The team can provide up to 12 months of one-to-one support to ensure needs are being met on an ongoing basis, as well as referring you to the Centre-based services available to registered carers. Services include: § § § § Statutory Carers Needs Assessment Counselling Drop-ins Health and wellbeing sessions (meditation, reiki, relaxation days) Evening classes (including Creative Writing, Stitch & Sew) It’s Barnet’s Business Discount Card Talks and information sessions (coffee mornings) Training Emergency Card Scheme Signposting and referrals Legal Advice Clinic Form-filling assistance Dementia Surgery Assistance with grant applications

COUNSELLING SERVICE • One to One Counselling with Supervised Volunteer Counsellor • 12 week programme • First session free – Assessment • Review at 6 & 12 weeks & referral onto other service at end of programme • Daytime & evening appointments

ADULT CARERS SERVICES CARER TRAINING • Disability Hate Crime training • Resources for Autism training for Parents • First Aid Courses • Manual Handling • Alcohol Awareness Training • DWP Benefits training • Alzheimer`s Society Dementia Services • Falls Prevention

ADULT CARERS OUTREACH SERVICES AND PARTNER ORGANISATIONS • Age UK Westminster Drug & Alcohol Project • Barnet Mencap Barnet Wellbeing Hub • Mind in Barnet YASS! • Alzheimer`s Society Jewish Care • Chinese Mental Health Association Healthwatch • Friend in Need Cherry Lodge Cancer Care • Citizens Advice Outreach Barnet

Community & Home Support Service (CHSS) Barnet Carers Centre’s Community & Home Support Service provides social and personal care in the home and community, 24 hours a day, seven days a week with professional, experienced care workers The service, which has been awarded Approved Provider status by the London Borough of Barnet, fully recognises the importance of continuity of care and individual preferences Services are tailored specifically as required at reasonable rates.

Stay in Touch Young Carers Support Team T: 020 8432 2092 E: youngcarers@barnetcarers. org Adult Carers Support Team T: 020 8343 9698 E: adultcarers@barnetcarers. org Community & Home Support Service T: 020 8432 2091 E: homecare@barnetcarers. org Barnet Carers Centre @Barnet. Carers www. barnetcarers. org