Carers in HertfordshireYoung Carers

Scrutiny Meeting18th November 2010

Young Carers Project Staff

Chief Executive Officer – Sue Reeve

Cindy Honour – Project Manager

Marie Freeman – School Development Worker

Cheryll Jones – Project Co-ordinator

Project Overview

Funded by Herts County Council, CSF and Hertfordshire NHS

Development & Support service since 1996

654 young carers registered with Project

Young Carers Service:

The Project provides services for young carers 9-18 years

Help, Support, InformationFree trips and ActivitiesTwo Young Carers CouncilsAnnual Young Carers Conference

.

Referrals:Referrals are received from All services, including

•CSF•ACS•Schools•Other Statutory & Voluntary Services•Self Referrals

SafeguardingAdopt Policies of HCC as required in service contract.Staff, volunteers, trustees are CRB CheckedStaff receive CP Training.CEO Named person for safeguardingAny concerns reported internally and to CSFReviewing practice against East of England Safeguarding Standards and NSPCC Firstcheck guide

Equal Opportunities

Equality and diversity policy applies to recruitment and service delivery

Data monitored to evaluate service deliveryFeedback used to improve service

i.e. all girls and all boys activity. Equality Impact Assessment to do

What we do – how we do it!

Referrals/Home VisitsReferrals received from across agenciesSelf ReferralsHome visit undertakenNeeds identified/appropriate referrals made to other agencies/support groupsRequest to schools for further support

654 young carers known to the Project and receiving informationDistrict Figures: Broxbourne 37 Dacorum

73East Herts 49 Hertsmere 54N. Herts 92 St. Albans 65Stevenage 129 Three Rivers 32Watford 36 Wel/Hatfield 87

Trips/Activities/Information

Period October 2009 – September 2010Annual Programme

14 trips243 placesAnnual Conference Young Carers Website/quarterly newslettersYoung Carers DVD’s

Trips have included:Art WorkshopsQuaserAll girls beauty dayOutdoor activity sessionsLazer PaintballingThorpe ParkZoo

And Still to come:Ski Snow CentreKarting And Much More!

Young Carers Councils:

8 members on the Senior Council 10 members on the Junior Council5 new members joining in NovemberThe Councils meet at least once a quarter and more often when planning the annual conference or other events.

Partnership Work With:

•CSF•Schools•Extended School•District Partnership NetworksSchool GovernorsCommunity Groups

School WorkPrevention 513 funded until endedSecondary Schools: Assemblies/PHSE lessons.

20 Secondary schools in the County offer support in school time through:

Drop-in sessionsOne-to-one workYoung Carers Support Groups6 Transfer Plans completed.

Primary SchoolsWorking in partnership to identify and set-up support systems for young carers in Primary and Junior schools

8 Primary schools providing support

After School Groups have been and are being set up by working in partnership with Connexions, CSF Personal Assistants and Extended Schools Co-ordinators. A Full list of these groups can be found on www.koolcarers.org.uk

Support Groups

Strategy Development

Strong Partnership approachChildren First/Think Family Involvement of Young Carers Listening /recognising needsOutcome based accountability developing

Issues And Challenges

Loss of Funding for School Development WorkExtend Partnership work and local supportLack of targeted support for 16-25 years young adult carersProject capacity to respond to increasing numbers of young carers