Young carers are children and young people who take on caregiving responsibilities for a family member with an illness, disability, mental health or substance abuse issue. In the UK, there are over 180,000 young carers, with 2,308 identified in Harrow alone in the 2011 census. The unpaid care provided by all carers in the UK is valued at £119 billion annually, or £407 million in Harrow specifically. Young carers can experience physical, emotional, social and educational difficulties due to their caring responsibilities. Local organizations like Harrow Carers offer support services to help young carers, as well as training professionals on identifying and referring young carers.

1. General Practices
working with
Young & Adults Carers
Ben White
Children’s Support Service Manager
COPYRIGHT HC/BW2013

2. Statistics
• In the 2011 Census there were 24,695 carers identified in Harrow
(nationally around 7 million).
• In the 2011 Census there were 2,308 Carer in Harrow under aged
24.
Young Carers In UK
• In the 2011 census there are 180,000 young carers in the UK.
• Representing 19% increase to that of the 2001 census data
• But many remain ‘Hidden’ carers who aren’t
receiving support

3. The value of caring
• The 1.25 million carers who provide care for more than 50
hours each week equate to a full-time workforce larger than
the entire National Health Service (NHS)
• £119 billion p.a. This is the value of the free care provided
by carers in the UK each year
• In Harrow it amounts to around £407m
• NHS Harrow's total expenditure for 2010/11 was £363.1m

4. So What Is A Young Carer?
Young carers are children and young people who look after
someone in their family who has an illness, a disability, or
is affected by mental ill-health or substance misuse.
Young carers often take on practical and/or emotional
caring responsibilities that would normally be expected of
an adult. The tasks undertaken can vary according to the
nature of the illness or disability, the level and frequency of
need for care and the structure of the family as a whole.

5. So Who Is A Carer?
• A Carer is any person who receives no
pay for supporting a parent or relative, an
elderly, physically and mentally ill or
disabled person or persons experiencing
substance abuse and those with terminal
conditions.

6. What sort of things might a young carer
have to do?

7. Carers role
• Carers’ knowledge about the person being cared for and co-
operation are vital for planning and implementing any patient care
plan successfully
• Carers often do nursing tasks such as giving medication, changing
dressings and helping with mobility.
• They may provide intimate care including washing the person cared
for, dressing and attending to toileting needs.
• This may include a great deal of lifting, or changing soiled clothes
many times throughout the day
• They may need to supervise medication or help with communication.

8. Carers role
Other carers, such as those caring for people with mental
health or substance misuse problems, or those caring
for people with dementia,
• may perform few physical tasks,
• but provide a great deal of emotional support, including
help to ensure that the person that they care for stays
safe.
• Carers may provide child care when parents are not
able to care for their children themselves.

9. Effects of caring – Young Carers
Physical Health
• Lack of sleep
• Poor diet
• Stress
Emotional Wellbeing
• Sadness
• Resentment
• Anger
• Embarrassment
• Guilt
• Mental health
Social
• No time for fun, playing &
socialising with friends
Education
• School can be a haven
• Experience isolation from
their peers or bullying
• Feelings that no-one
understands
• Lack of support
• Behavioural problems – anger
/ stress
• Punctuality, attendance, late
submission of homework
• Low self esteem with regards
to educational achievement
• Difficulties making the
transition into adulthood e.g.
lack of qualifications

10. Effects of caring

11. What Harrow Carers can
offer
Young
Carers
Advice &
Support
Counselling
Activities
Training
School
Drop ins
& Much
more

12. What Harrow Carers can
offer
Professionals
Training
Publicity &
Resources
Joint
Working
Guidance &
Information
& Much
more

13. Five key ways for professionals
to support carers
1. Just listen!
2. Observe
3. Ask Questions
4. Signpost to services
5. Refer to Local Carers Centre

14. Example Questions
?
• How many people do you live with?
• What sort of things do you do with them?
• Do you help at home?
• What sort of things do you help with?
• Is anyone at home sick often?
• Do you ever help someone with medicine?
• Does..... stay at home a lot?
• Does ..... go to the doctor/hospital often?
• Have you heard the phrase Young Carer?

15. Contact details
Harrow Carers Centre
376-378 Pinner Road
North Harrow
HA2 6DZ
Tel: 020 8868 5224
Email: ben.white@ harrowcarers.org
Fax: 020 8427 7764 www.harrowcarers.org