Welcome to the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership webpage of bite sized learning materials. Research shows that young carers have significantly lower educational attainment at GCSE level – an average of one grade lower than their peers. They are also less likely to be in education, employment, or training (NEET) between 16 and 19. Please do “Take 5” and afterwards fill in the feedback form, we would love to hear your thoughts and your tried and tested quick wins too!
This page is “live” and will be updated quarterly taking into account your feedback and current best practice updates.
Bite size materials to identify and support Young Carers to thrive
This site is to support professionals who work with children and young people who maybe or have been identified as young carers. The information has been sourced and produced both locally and nationally by the WYHCP Young Carers Steering Group in coproduction with young carers and kind permission from The Children’s Society. The learning materials aim to suit different learning styles with bite size, easy to read, watch or listen to materials that will enable you to make a difference.
“Every young carers’ experience of school can be widely different, some will really enjoy being away from home whereas some relish the safety and security of being at home to care for their loved one.
Every young carer has different life experiences, so our approach needs to reflect and respect this. We aim with this resource to help anyone working with children and young people who could be young carers to better understand what they can do to help ease the pressures the young carer may be going through."
Tom aged 23 Wakefield unpaid carer for 15 years
Young Carer Films
West Yorkshire young carers shared their experiences of what it is really like to be a young carer. Five one-minute films each have been coproduced demonstrating some of the challenges faced and missed opportunities being a young carer
Each film also focuses on a positive too, young carers shared despite the sacrifices there are positives too when caring for loved ones.
More information coming soon.
Quick Wins to support Young Carers
What is quick win? A quick win is an action or behaviour that can make a difference to a young carer that should take 5 minutes or less. West Yorkshire Young Carers shared that it is often the little things that can make a difference. They said:
School
- Ask how the young carer is?
- Review attendance to see if signs of caring at home
- Check in regularly with suspected young carers at breaks to check if they are ok and not having trouble
- Have information ready in case they identify as carers and give it to them
- Read our leaflet on caring Toms_Flyer_YCAD.pdf (wypartnership.co.uk)
Further Education
- Ask how the young carer is?
- Review attendance to see if signs of caring at home
- Speak with the young carers champion of college or university to see if they can help in any way
- Have information ready in case they identify as carers and give it to them
- Read our leaflet on caring Toms_Flyer_YCAD.pdf (wypartnership.co.uk)
Community
- If you suspect someone is a carer ask if they need any help
- Read our leaflet on caring Toms_Flyer_YCAD.pdf (wypartnership.co.uk)
- Speak with the young carer group in your area to see if they can help in any way
Workplace
- If you suspect someone is a carer, ask them if they need any help
- If you are a manager and you suspect someone is a carer be understanding to them and if they’re late ask if they need any additional support at home
- If you are a manager and if your employee would like a working carers passport LINK
- Advise workers to inform line manager of potential additional support needed
- Read our leaflet on caring Toms_Flyer_YCAD.pdf (wypartnership.co.uk)
Primary Care
- Ask how carers are coping
- Have information ready in cases they are identified as carers to give them
- Read our leaflet on caring Toms_Flyer_YCAD.pdf (wypartnership.co.uk)
- Refer to services if need is identified
- Remember to ask if the carer has any issues to raise about their condition or the person they care for
NHS England Top Tips for GP’s
These top tips were written by young carers and young adult carers to improve their experience of primary care. Useful tips for other professionals too!
- Recognise that young carers have individual needs and shouldn’t all be treated the same.
- Think about the support and understanding a young carer may need.
- Listen and hear what young carers are saying.
- Avoid relying on young carers interpreting for the person they care for.
- Think about how you can make appointments more accessible; after school, double appointments etc.
One Minute Guides
Quick, simple and straight forward information to aid identification and support of young carers.
Children’s Society Training Slides (pdf)
NHSE commissioned the Children’s Society to provide training to professionals in the North East and Yorkshire. The learning outcomes are:
- Be aware of the law and legislation pertaining to young carers
- Be aware of the potential impacts of caring responsibilities
- Be informed about the potential identifiers of young carers
- Understand factors which may make a young carer 'hidden’
- Understand how you can support, identify and refer young carers within your role
There are also slides showcasing the work of the Partnership's Young Carers Steering Group and case studies demonstrating the work of local young carer services.
Feedback
Thank you for accessing this webpage and hope you have found the information useful and informative. Your feedback is important. Please leave a few comments below and if you have a “quick win” or other information to share please do.