Supporting Young Carers in Education

Posted on September 26, 2024September 26, 2024 by Michael Ford

Supporting Young Carers in Education

At Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales, we are incredibly proud of the work our dedicated Education Engagement Team is doing to support young carers across Carmarthenshire. Our two members of staff, Rhys and Clare, offer a two-pronged approach by embedding much-needed support into schools, colleges, and universities, ensuring that young carers receive the help they need to thrive in education.

Equipping Education Professionals

One of the key areas of our work is providing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training to all education practitioners. Our training focuses on the unique challenges young carers face in balancing their caring responsibilities with their education. Using the latest Welsh statistics, we highlight how these responsibilities can affect attendance, academic performance, and overall wellbeing. By raising awareness, we help staff understand the needs of young carers, enabling them to provide appropriate support and create a more inclusive learning environment.

Empowering Young Carers

In addition to working with staff, Rhys and Clare along with other team members, directly engage with students and pupils through assemblies, class presentations, and school clubs. Our aim is to help young people self-identify as carers and connect them with the support they need. Many young carers do not recognise their role or the impact it has on their daily lives. By offering information and guidance in a safe, supportive space, we empower these students to seek help early. Once identified, they are connected with a dedicated keyworker who provides personalised, ongoing support tailored to their individual circumstances.

Setting an Example for Other Regions

Our service is making a significant difference in the lives of young carers in Carmarthenshire. By embedding this essential support within educational establishments, we are creating a model that other regions could benefit from. Early identification and targeted assistance are key to ensuring that young carers can succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales is proud to be at the forefront of this effort, working closely with schools and colleges to ensure that no young carer is left behind.

We believe that this integrated approach not only improves outcomes for young carers but also serves as an exemplary model that other areas across Wales—and beyond—can follow.

For more information about our work or to discuss how we can support your educational institution, please get in touch with our team today. Together, we can make a real difference for young carers.

Our Impact

During the 2023/2024 academic year, Rhys and Clare engaged with 3,000 young people, offering them vital support, resources, and opportunities. Notably, after an engagement session 10% identified as young carers, reflecting our commitment to reaching and supporting this often underrepresented group.

By addressing their specific needs and challenges, we will empower young carers to manage their responsibilities while also focusing on their personal development, education, and well-being. Our engagement with these young people highlights the importance of inclusive programmes that cater to diverse backgrounds and experiences.

No choice but to care – Carers Week Report 2024

Posted on June 26, 2024 by Michael Ford

No choice but to care

Carers UK carry out an annual survey into caring and this year their No choice but to care report was published on the first day of Carers Week 2024. The report found that 62% of those who are currently providing or those who have previously provided unpaid care said that they had no choice in taking on the role because no other care options were available – this is around 10 million adults.

While caring can be rewarding, the impact of providing unpaid care has been more negative than positive for all areas current and former unpaid carers were asked about, particularly for mental health (63%), physical health (53%), Job and ability to work (48%) and finances and savings (47%). The negative impacts as a result of caring were also felt most strongly by those who had no choice but to take on an unpaid caring role as well as women and those aged 45-54.

Ahead of the UK General Election, the research also found that 73% of members of the public surveyed for the research think that unpaid carers should receive more support from the next Government, particularly financial support and investment in social care.

Helen Walker, chief executive at Carers UK said:

“These findings demonstrate how caring can have a profound effect on every aspect of life and wellbeing, from mental and physical health, being able to work, or affecting their future income including pensions. That’s why we need to see a future Government deliver action across Government, in the form of a National Carers Strategy. With an ageing population, this is becoming ever more important.

“Carers Week is an important annual opportunity to ‘put carers on the map’. We want unpaid carers to know they are not forgotten, and they are not alone. Many are at breaking point, facing huge challenges with their caring responsibilities. On top of this they are struggling to manage their own health and wellbeing. Carers are worried about their long-term health, security and ability to care in the future.”

You can read the full report here:

https://www.carersuk.org/media/3dblytnt/carers-week-report-2024-web_final.pdf

Carers and Carers Assessment

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Michael Ford

Am I a Carer?

It takes two years on average for someone to identify themselves as a carer. Many people consider caring as part and parcel of family life and see themselves primarily as a partner, wife, son, sibling, cousin, parent or a close friend. As a result they might not see the need to identify themselves separately as a carer.

But identifying as an unpaid carer can bring benefits such as access to support services, information, validation and access to carers rights.
Overall, identifying as a carer and accessing support can help to enhance wellbeing and many carers feel a greater sense of fulfilment when their role is recognised and valued.

Am I entitled to a Carers Assessment?

The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 came into force on the 6th April 2016.
The Act in Wales applies to people in need, of any age and introduces equivalent rights for carers to those they care for.

If you provide unpaid care for someone you are entitled to a Carers Needs Assessment whether or not you live with the person who you care for, and you can have an assessment regardless of whether the person you care for has had their own assessment, or whether the person you care for is having social care support.

The purpose of a Carers Needs Assessment is to find out what your needs as a Carer are and to help you to access services or support that you may need to help support your wellbeing while you carry out your caring role.

The local council, usually a Social Worker, will carry out the Carers Needs Assessment and there is a clear legal duty on the local council to consider the following:

they must assess whether you have needs for support or are likely to do so in the future.
the extent that you are able and willing to provide care and will continue to be able and willing to do so.
what matters to you and the personal outcomes that you wish to achieve.
the extent to which support, preventative services, provision of information, advice and assistance can assist you with achieving those outcomes.
the assessment must also have regard to whether you work, wish to work and whether you are participating or wish to participate in education, training or leisure activities.

A Carers Assessment could result in a Care & Support Plan to help you manage your caring role including accessing breaks from caring.

New rights for working carers arriving soon…

Posted on March 28, 2024March 28, 2024 by Michael Ford

On 6 April, the Carer’s Leave Act 2023 will come into force: a significant step forward for carers’ employment rights. This new legislation will give employees who are unpaid carers up to five days’ unpaid leave from work a year in support of their caring responsibilities. The regulations have now been approved by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, paving the way for them to be implemented across England, Scotland and Wales.

The regulations confirm that to be entitled, employees need to be providing long term care – the definition of which is clearly set out in the law – and that the appropriate notice period an employee needs to give to take the leave is twice the length of time that needs to be taken in advance of the earliest day of leave. Employees will not be required to notify their employer in writing regarding their request to take Carer’s Leave, although they can do so if they wish to. Importantly, employees taking Carer’s Leave will have the same employment protections as associated with other forms of family related leave (eg, maternity, paternity, adoption, parental bereavement, shared parental and parental leave).

This includes protection from dismissal or detriment because of taking or seeking Carer’s Leave. Carers UK say “While this is a major step forward towards improving the lives of people juggling paid work and caring responsibilities, we know that this is just the beginning. We will look to immediately build on this success and will continue to campaign for more support for carers who are in work as well as those seeking to return to employment”.

Eligibility:

To be entitled to Carer’s Leave, you must:

be providing long term care
give a notice period of at least twice the time requested to be taken.

Quote:

One working carer said:
“Without the support I received from my employers and colleagues, it would have meant finishing work. It was as stark as that. And that decision would’ve come with huge implications.”

Is a Carers ID & Emergency Card for you?

Posted on March 28, 2024March 28, 2024 by Michael Ford

Having a Carer’s ID or Emergency Card can have benefits for you and the person you care for. If you are a carer in Carmarthenshire, you can apply for a Carers Emergency Card. If you are involved in an accident or emergency or are seriously ill the card will alert others that you have someone at home who cannot manage without your help. Having a Carers Emergency Card can have benefits for you and the person you care for including, Carer discounts and peace of mind for you and the person you care for.

You can apply today by following the link: For me – Delta Wellbeing

How can Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales support unpaid carers?

Posted on March 18, 2024July 5, 2024 by Michael Ford

Our offer for unpaid carers:

Carers Newsflash – quarterly e-bulletin updates
Crossroads Care – Replacement Care and Regulated Care – providing carers with a break from their caring role.
Young Carers Support Service – one-to-one support, workshops, training, group peer support, clubs, and activities for carers age 5 – 25 years
CATCHUP Welfare Benefits Advice Service – benefit advice, checks, form filling and Appeal Tribunal Representation.
Hospital Discharge Support Service – help with communication with medical staff when the person you care for is in hospital and support to help carers understand their rights and to be involved in discharge planning.
Community Discharge Support Service – help with communication with staff when the person you care for is in a community hospital or temporary care facility and follow-up post discharge support for carers and family members to ensure a smooth transition from hospital to home.
Money Matters Service – help to maximise income, improve budgeting skills, access to workshops, access to carer grants, discounts, and concessions.
Independent Professional Advocacy as part of the 3CIPA Service – advising carers of their rights, support during assessments and/or care planning reviews, complaints, and safeguarding concerns.
Time Together Project – offering a range of short break options for carers along with wellbeing activities for carers and the person they care for.
FREE Legal Advice Surgeries – in partnership with NewLaw Solicitors who offer.

Carers Rights Day 2023

Posted on March 18, 2024March 18, 2024 by Michael Ford

This year we celebrated Carers Rights Day with a vibrant and engaging event at the National Botanic Gardens. The event, attended by 64 unpaid carers, was facilitated by Professor Nick Andrews of Swansea University and focussed on carers rights to have a break from their caring role.
More people are caring for a loved one than ever before and we all know that caring for a loved one can be a positive and rewarding experience, but carers need support and access to short breaks to help them continue their vital role.
It was uplifting to hear from so many carers what the importance of a short break means to them, giving them a much-needed opportunity to recharge their batteries and have some well-earned rest and relaxation.