Contact: Janet Packman, 01962-846257 - [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The purpose of this report is to inform elected Members of plans to introduce a strategy for `young carers', that is children and young people who perform a substantial caring role within their families. The report explains the need to raise awareness of the needs of young carers and describes services currently provided in Hampshire. A copy of the draft strategy is attached at Appendix 1.

1.2 The strategy supports aims 1,4,5,6, of the Corporate Strategy.

1.3 The strategy reflects recent legislation, national policy and government standards as identified in the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services. The Children Act 2004 requires that all agencies are committed to supporting and improving the life chances of all children including those in a caring role and the strategy supports the five outcomes described in `Every Child Matters' and endorsed in the Children Act.

Be healthy : agencies will ensure that the health needs of young carers are identified and met. Very often children in a caring role will have their own health problems which may include anxiety or depression, eating disorders, self harm, or use of alcohol or drugs.

Stay safe - young carers like other young people should be protected in their home, school and community environment. Young carers may be bullied at school because of the care they provide at home, or because they have a disabled sibling.

Enjoy and achieve through learning - young carers often miss out on their schooling

because of their caring role at home. Schools should ensure that if a child

consistently fails to hand in homework, is late for lessons, or misses school she

or he should not be chastised. Sensitive discussions and enquiries may be

Make a positive contribution to society - young carers should be encouraged and supported to make a positive contribution to society through school, leisure and their family. This may mean that agencies involved with the child and her or his family will need to consider ways of supporting the family to reduce the hours of caring for the young carer .

Achieve economic well-being - young carers should not miss the opportunity to gain meaningful employment - which may include part-time/Saturday work when they are still in education, or full-time employment on the completion of their education. Support to achieve all the above aims will contribute to this final aim.

2 Introduction

2.1 The 2001 census identified that there are 175,000 young carers nationally, and 2,500 in Hampshire. This is equivalent to 1 in every 100 pupils. We know that there are children as young as five years old who are young carers. For the purposes of this report the term `young carer' includes both children and young people.

2.2 The definition of a young carer is "a young person under the age of 18 years, whose life is affected by looking after someone with a disability or long-term illness. The person cared for may be a parent, a sibling or another family member, and the care given may be practical, physical and/or emotional."

2.3 Examples of some of the tasks that children undertake include personal and intimate care for other members of the family (which may include adults of the opposite sex to the child), giving medication, lifting, budgeting, shopping, housework, collecting prescriptions and benefits, communicating for a parent, parenting younger siblings.

2.4 The strategy is aimed at agencies in Hampshire involved with young carers and their families. It sets out the shared vision and action plan for the next three years and focuses on those children who provide a substantial amount of care to a member of their family or to a friend.

2.5 The strategy was developed by a multi-agency steering group comprising representatives from Hampshire County Council - (children's adults and youth services), Connexions, Health, The Children's Society, Young Carer Projects, and the Children's Fund.

2.6 The aims of the strategy in summary are to raise awareness to and highlight the needs of young carers, to ensure all young carers have access to projects/services which can provide support for their emotional needs, personal, social and educational development, to encourage agencies to work towards supporting families to reduce the amount of inappropriate care that a child/young person provides to any family member.

3 What We Wish to Achieve

3.1 Inclusive Provision for young carers

3.1.1 The agencies involved are aiming to achieve the position whereby young carers are seen as children first, by promoting inclusion and supporting them to be able to undertake educational and leisure activities with their peers.

3.1.2 It is recognised that many young carers gain benefit from meeting with children in a similar situation to themselves and should therefore be supported to take advantage of a choice of specialist projects and community based activities.

There are positive signs that schools are putting in place arrangements in recognition of the special needs of young carers. Further development to help all schools achieve a consistent approach to the identification and support of young carers is required. To that end proposals for a nominated `link teacher' to oversee young carers' matters in every school are being explored.
3.1.3

An additional priority is to ensure that the health needs of young carers are recognised and met by the National Health Service, including GPs, Health Visitors, School Nurses and associated professionals
3.1.4 Choice for Young Carers

3.1.5 Children in a caring role should be supported to make choices about their life and feel confident that if they are not able or do not wish to provide the care, then the cared for person is not put at risk.

3.1.6 Projects run by voluntary organisations are available in seven areas of the county for young carers offering activities and support for those who wish to mix with children in similar circumstances. The previous Social Services Department's Children & Families Sector helps fund these schemes. These projects whilst providing a valuable service, should not be the only option for young carers, who should be encouraged to take part in activities with their peers who are not carers.

3.2 Assessment of Need

3.2.1 Children acting in a caring capacity within their family may be `children in need', as defined within the Children Act 1989 especially when their caring role inhibits the experience and normal development of childhood. Children who care have the same rights as all children. Young carers have a right to an assessment of their own needs as a carer (overseen by the Children's Services Department) to have their views taken into account (Carers Recognition and Services Act 1995, Disabled Children Act 2000 and Carers Equal Opportunities Act 2004).

4 Process to Achieve Improved Provision for Young Carers

4.1 Development Workers

4.1.1 Four Development Workers were appointed in 2003 to work in different areas of the county to ensure that young carers can access the same services as any other child in the community, and to help secure dedicated support services. These posts were funded from the Carers Grant on short term contracts due to finish at the end of March 2006. Two of the Development Workers are employed by the Youth Service and two by The Children's Society.

4.1.2 The role of these workers was recently reviewed by the multi-agency strategy steering group and it was concluded that the work needs to continue and that the tasks be carried forward by two development workers to work across the county. The development workers will have three key areas of work:

· Promoting the provision of specific support to young carers

· Working with existing services in the locality to raise awareness and enable them to meet the needs of young carers within a holistic family centred environment (including those families who have a child with a disability)

· The promotion, through networking and liaison, of good practice by all agencies so that young carers' needs are addressed wherever they may come into contact or seek help

The Children's Society expressed an interest in continuing with the contract and approval has been granted by the County Council to an extension of the contract until March 2009.4.1.3

4.2 Whole Family Working - a National Pilot

4.2.1 This Authority is one of three pilot local authorities working with The Children's Society's Young Carers Initiative which has obtained three year's funding from the Department for Education and Skills (Safeguarding Children Grant) to

¬ Encourage and support the effective implementation of interagency, whole family assessment pathways and service delivery at local practice levels

¬ Prevent these families falling through the gaps in agencies' provision and those between adult and children's services

The work is being undertaken in partnership with the Disabled Parents Network and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

4.3 Children's Services and Adult Services

4.3.1 Hampshire's new Children's Services and Adults Care Services Departments recognise the need to continue to work closely together to ensure families are assessed and their needs met holistically as outlined in The Children Act and National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services. The family must be seen as a "whole" and their needs met accordingly, not addressed in isolation by the two new departments and different social workers/care managers. The care needs of the parent need to be assessed and met to prevent children providing care inappropriate to age and capabilities.

4.3.2 This includes ensuring that the needs of all children with long-term social care needs in the transition from childhood to adults have been assessed and appropriately taken into account by Adults Services. Key aspects include young carers who at 18 will become adult carers, and the need for all adult carers services to retain awareness of child development and welfare issues in general and of child protection matters in particular.

4.4 Family Empowerment

4.4.1 It is important that families are empowered to make their own decisions consistent with the overall welfare of their members. Families will be offered the opportunity to use a Family Group Conference as part of Hampshire's family policy to address complex difficulties, as well as being offered support to use an informal approach.

4.5 Mentoring

4.5.1 Mentoring schemes exist in some areas for young carers and other vulnerable children. These may be provided by schools, Connexions, or young carer projects. Further developments in family mentoring services are underway and were reported to Members recently

Some of the Young Carer Projects offer a "buddy" system to young carers to support them in a variety of activities, and through difficult times in their lives
4.5.2 `Taking Responsibility'

4.5.3 The document `Taking Responsibility' sets out the policy to which Hampshire County Council, Connexions, NHS and The Children's Society are working and supporting young carers.

4.6 Connexions

4.6.1 Connexions Personal Assistants also offer an information, advice, and guidance service for all 13-19 year olds (up to the age of 25 for young people with a learning disability and/or disabilities).

4.7 Schools Counselling Service

4.7.1 The Schools Counselling Service has recently developed a resource pack for

schools which covers a variety of issues in respect of children.

4.8 Views of Young Carers and their Families

4.8.1 The draft strategy document which was circulated for consultation earlier this

year described some of the views of children their families in relation to the

various young carer projects within the county.

4.8.2 The views of young carers and their families have been periodically sought by The Children's Society which has undertaken several pieces of research on behalf of the County Council. .

4.8.3 The national project that the Children's Society is currently carrying out will be gathering views of families where there is a young person with a caring role. Views of young carers can be gained via the projects in Hampshire, and by the development workers' involvement with those agencies offering support to young people in a caring role.

5 Legal implications

5.1 None

6 Financial implications

6.1It is intended that the roll-out of the strategy is managed within the existing budgetary provision for Children's Services.

6.2 Funding for Young Carers' Services derives from an allocation of 20% of the overall central government Carers' Grant, currently overseen by the Adults Care Services Department. This amount is some £350,000.

Expenditure has included two contracts for development workers and related services for young carers with a total value of £125,000; one with the County Council's Youth Service, and the other with the Children's Society.

In addition, small grants have been made to Young Carers' Projects (including , for example, a total of four schemes in this and the previous financial year.

The remaining funds from the overall Carers' Grant help support respite breaks and other services, and play provision for children with special needs.

7 Personnel implications

7.1 None

8 Race Relations (Amendment) Act

8.1 Race and equality impact assessment has been considered in the development of this report and no adverse impact has been identified.

9 Views of the Local County Councillor

9.1 The Strategy document has a countywide remit; consequently there has been no specific consultation with particular Members in relation to this document. However, local Members have been involved in discussions about specific young carer projects, and Executive Members are always invited to the Young Carer Festival at Fairthorne Manor, Curdridge, during the first weekend in July. The past Executive Member for Social Care and the past Executive Member for Education were each sent a copy of the draft strategy document as part of the consultation process.

Recommendations

It is recommended to the Children's Services Policy Review Committee that it

1Supports the aims of the strategy and notes the developments.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

None