YOUNG CARERS

YOUNG CARERS

Definitions
1. Children under the age of 18 who are providing primary care for a sick or disabled relative at home.
  1. Aldridge & Becker, 1993
2. Is a person under the age of 19 who takes some or all the responsibility for looking after someone else – usually a parent or relative – who is physically or mentally ill, disabled or who suffers from drug and/or alcohol addiction.
  1. Thomas, Stainton, Jackson, Cheung, Doubtfire, & Webb 2003
NHS and community care act 1990
1. All young carers = entitled Carers Assessment under the 1995 Carer’s Act, when person = looking after is being assessed
  1. Slatcher & Frank, 2012
2. To access help: a social worker/ health/ social care professional looks at needs of somebody with an illness/ disability & assesses what community care services meet needs.
  1. Carers.org, 2012
3. LAs can charge for services after community care assessment, but = subject to a means tested financial assessment.
  1. Carers.org, 2012
4. Section 17) emphasises that a principal purpose for the provision of services to children in need is to promote the upbringing of such children by their families.
  1. Clements, 2009
5. Section 2) LAs can provide services such as physical help, training or counseling for carers.
  1. http://www.devon.gov.uk
Aims of NHS & Community care act 1990:
1. to enable people to live in their own homes where feasible
2. To ensure= high priority of practical support of carers
3. To make proper assessment of need & good care management to ensure high quality care
4. To clarify responsibilities of agencies & make it easier to hold them account for their performance
5. To secure better value for taxpayers’ money by introducing a new funding structure for social care
Summary of the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995
1. Offers all carers the right to have their needs assessed when the care recipient is assessed.
2. Also the first piece of legislation to specifically include young carers.
Child protection and child carers
1. In 1989, world leaders officially recognised the human rights of children (under 18) by signing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
  1. UNICEF
2. a child has the rights to...
  1. Childhood
  2. Education
  3. Good health
  4. To be treated fairly
  5. To be heard
3. However, the role of a young carer may deny children of certain rights
  1. Non-discrimination (Article 2)
  2. Access to information (Article 17)
  3. The right to an education (Article 28)
  4. The right to develop their full potential (Article 29)
  5. The right to rest and leisure, play and recreation (Article 31)
The Children Act 1989
1. Aims of the Act
  1. To have a balance between protecting children & enabling parents to challenge state intervention
  2. To encourage a better partnership between authorities and parents
  3. To promote voluntary arrangements
2. Summary of act
  1. Assumes children are best raised in their own homes
  2. Argues that welfare is the most important aspect
  3. Argues court orders should be carried out with the intention of improving a child's welfare
  4. Argues that the view of the child should be taken into account
Governmental Schemes Every Child Matters
1. A Labour policy implemented by former Labour Prime Minster, Tony Blair.
2. Scheme created due to: Past failings (e.g. death of Victoria Climbié)
3. Aims: ensure good health, safety, enjoyment and achievement, the make a positive contribution and economic wellbeing.
4. Methods
  1. Sure Start centres
  2. extended school services
  3. Young People’s Fund
  4. mental health services
  5. speech & language therapy
  6. homelessness
  7. Youth Justice System

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	Created by Charlotte Joseph over 10 years ago