Working with young carers with learning disabilities and other special needs

www.carers.org / www.youngcarers.net / www.crossroads.org.uk

Working with young carers with learning disabilities and

other special needs


Identifying young carers with additional support needs

Of the estimated 175,000 young carers in the UK, it is likely that at least 36,750 will have special educational needs and be attending mainstream school.

Source: Department of Children, Schools and Families (2009): Children with special educational needs 2009: an analysis


Identifying young carers with additional support needs

Two approaches:•Young carers already known to carers services – do they have additional support needs?•Young people with additional support needs – are they young carers?


Young carers already known to carers services –

do they have additional support needs?

Look for signs of additional support needs shown by children with different caring responsibilities:

• Level of learning disability • Behavioural problems Difficulties in expressing

themselves• Physical mobility• Sensory limitations


Young people with additional support needs –

are they young carers?Signs include:•Poor attendance at school•Isolation and feelings of detachment•Missing deadlines for homework•Anxiety and depression•Tiredness, stress, worry or low concentration•Lack of concentration during exams•Low motivation


• Low self-esteem and confidence• Behavioural issues – guilt, anger, resentment,

confusion• Being bullied• Lack of social skills• Finding it hard to make or maintain

friendships• Being seen as isolated or different• Keeping things hidden


Sources of referrals

Examples of services that might help with identifying these young carers:•SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators)•School family support workers•Social services (disabled children’s and initial response teams)•Other young people’s services


Planning services for young carers with

additional support needs

• Dedicated, familiar staff• An established peer group• Close liaison with statutory services• One to one support




Young carers services should be aware of what to look for and can offer advice with getting diagnosed and supported, for example:•Help with sight/hearing tests•Getting extra support at school through School Action and School Action Plus•The statementing system – very difficult to navigate even if you are a parent




• Help with accessing other services e.g. OT


Crossroads Care Richmond on Thames:service development

• 2 Saturday clubs for children with additional support needs

• Identified a number of children who are young carers unable to access Young Carers Project.

• New project supporting these young carers aged 8-16 years and young carers with additional needs aged 8-16 within the wider community.


Crossroads Care Richmond on Thames:

outcomes

They found that young carers attending the project had a significant change in •self-confidence•lifestyles•physical abilities to take part in sports •increased self-esteem and well-being.


NIACE (National Institute of

Adult Continuing Education)

• Research with young adult carers (16+) with a learning difficulty

• Are producing a booklet on caring and learning for young carers with learning difficulties.


Issues identified through research

“It’s 24 hours a day”

“I get really tired and sometimes I feel very down. I do like being a carer, but I also want to be able to do things for me sometimes too.”

“travelling at night can be frightening. I only like to go on buses and train in the daytime.”



“Sometimes XXX doesn’t want me to leave the house. Sometimes she likes me to be with her all the time. But it’s really hard, I want to do other things too, but I also want to make sure she’s ok. When I’m out I worry about if she’s ok.”

“Your life isn’t your own when you’re a carer. What about me”



“People with learning difficulties don’t always realise that they are becoming a carer. I think it’s important that I know I’m a carer, so that I can get the help I need.”

“Because I have a learning difficulty, it makes it harder to be recognised as a carer.”

“They don’t know how to support a carer with a learning difficulty.”


Benefits of learning for carers with a learning difficulty

• Learn new skills – “I like learning to be a painter and decorator. I have painted some rooms in my house and they look nice.”

• Work towards getting a job – “when I have finished my course I am going to get a job and get paid.”

• Meet new people - “it’s good to learn new things and to meet different people.”

• A break from caring• Help you to help yourself to get support


Contact details

Cath BakerPolicy and Development Officer

(Learning Disabilities)01568 760027

[email protected]

www.carers.org/professionalswww.crossroads.org.ukwww.youngcarers.net

Documents

Working with young carers with learning disabilities and other special needs