inform participants of the challenges young carers are likely to face and the impact on education and wellbeing outcomes
inform participants about referral, assessment and support pathways for young carers
provide information about the toolkits available to schools supporting young carers and the new Wiltshire Young Carer Friendly standards and Award

Book on Right Choice

Young Carer Friendly Award (from November 2022)

Education settings can now apply for the Young Carer Friendly Award.

The information and resources below have been developed by Carer Support Wiltshire to help schools and colleges to get involved this year with Young Carer Action Day 16th March 2022.

Information and resources for Wiltshire schools

Information and resources for Wiltshire colleges

Young people who think they may be a young carer and need some extra support, and parents/carers who think their child may be a young carer, can now self-refer to Wiltshire Council for an assessment.

Professionals should complete a DART (Diagnostic Assessment and Referral Tool) which can be found here or SARF (Single Agency Referral Form) which is located here. SARFs can be sent directly to the Integrated Front door by emailing MASH@wiltshire.gov.uk.

Children and parents can self-refer into the Integrated Front Door on 0300 4560108 or MASH@wiltshire.gov.uk.

Once the assessment is complete, if the young person is deemed a young carer and they would benefit from activities that would give them a break from their caring role then a referral will be made to Carer Support Wiltshire.

For more information and full details of the referral pathway and updated Young Carer Identification and Awareness Digital Pack for Schools and Colleges.

Click here and scroll down to find the digital pack

Resources include:

Posters
Assembly PowerPoint
Young carer identification letter for parents
Sample Wiltshire young carer school policy
Introducing a Young Carers School Lead
Referral information
Case studies and more

Information and advice for young carers and young adult carers, in relation to Covid-19, is now on the Carer Support Wiltshire website:

Young adult carers (16-25)
Young carers

The council’s young carers team will be in touch with your school to let you know which of your pupils are known to them to be young carers.

Schools can continue to refer young carers for assessment via DART. Assessments will be by telephone.

Schools who are concerned about a young carer can contact MASH on 0300 456 0108

More advice from Carer Support Wiltshire about Young Carers can be read here

A young carer is a child or young person who cares for another person. This may be someone in their family who needs looking after because they have a disability or an illness. It could be a brother or sister or a parent or grandparent. A young carer should not have to do so much caring that it makes them upset, unwell or miss school.

The 2011 census reported that there were over 200,000 young carers in the UK but research by the BBC in 2010 estimated that there could be up to 700,000 young carers in the UK.

Young carers can be found in families where there are :

physical disabilities or long term illness;
mental health problems;
family members who misuse alcohol or drugs;
multiple problems.

The average age for a young carer is 12 years old. They can care for family members in a number of ways, including: cooking, shopping, personal care, washing clothes, arranging medical appointments and carrying out housework.

Research shows that a young carer's responsibilities can negatively impact upon their health, wellbeing and school achievement (9 grades lower than their peers at GCSE). They are more likely to be not in education, employment or training (NEET) from 16-19. Many young carers experience the following:

tiredness
social isolation
bullying (25% bullied due to their caring role)
physical problems
difficulty concentrating
poor attendance (around 1 in 20 miss school)

Young carers can also demonstrate great resilience, sense of responsibility and independence.

Resources for Young Carers Action Day 2021 can be found here

Most schools will have children and young people on roll who have caring responsibilities for a parent, other relative or sibling. Some of these will be known to the school, but very often young carers can remain hidden and can be difficult to identify.

Schools have a duty to consider the health and wellbeing of all pupils and they can do this in a number of ways. Training for all staff, in the identification of young carers and the approaches that can be put in place to support them can make a positive impact on young carers and their attainment and achievement.

The current Wiltshire Healthy Schools criteria ask schools to provide evidence of how they are meeting the needs of young carers, including having in place a young carers policy.

Support and guidance for Wiltshire schools

From April 1st 2018 Carer Support Wiltshire has been commissioned to offer support and guidance to schools, communities and health settings. Schools can continue to use a DART (or SARF if you do not have access to DART) to refer a young person whom you believe to be a young carer.

Sharon Twiggs (Health and Engagement worker- Young Carers) is employed to raise awareness of Young Carers, help schools to identify and refer Young Carers and offer information about ways to support Young Carers.

Please contact her for support, including meeting Wiltshire Healthy Schools targets for young carers - this may include help raising awareness of young carers among staff, hearing about good practice in other schools and receiving materials for display. Email: sharon@carersupportwiltshire.co.uk 01380 819598.

Other queries about support for young carers in Wiltshire should be directed to the Wiltshire Council Young Carers Team: YoungCarersTeam@wiltshire.gov.uk

Information and resources to support young carers in school can be found here: https://youngcarersinschools.com/

Advice, Information and support for Young Adult Carers aged 16-25: www.YACbook.co.uk

Leaflet about young carers in school

The Children's Society and Carers Trust have a Young Carers in School Award that supports and recognises schools who support their young carers.

Longleaze Primary School achieved this national award during 2016.

The Carers Trust provide a step-by-step guide for supporting young carers in school.

As part of this step by step guide there are various national documents with suggested content for a Young Carers policy including this one.

This e-learning module for schools created by The Children's Society, can raise staff awareness of the issues young carers face and help schools to develop strategies to support them.

Resources from Carer Support Wiltshire

Social Media images

Further local information

Wiltshire Council young carers information