What services does the project offer?
Each child and young person referred to the project is allocated a Key Worker who will undertake an assessment of their particular needs. In response to this a package of support will be developed. The support offered will be different for each child.
All young people who engage with the project are offered outings and activities, at a frequency dictated by their particular needs. These activities enable the young person to have “time out” from their caring role and an opportunity for peer support. For some of the activities the main focus so on having fun (e.g. laser quest, quad biking, cinema, ice hockey matches, concerts etc). However many of the activities offered also have a personal development element and aim to encourage the development of self esteem, confidence, resilience and coping skills. These activities include abseiling, caving, dance & drama and arts based activities such as digital photography, film making etc.
There is no cost to either the family or the referrer for any of these outings or activities and door-to-door transport is provided for any young person who requires this.
The projects also deliver group work and any young people who it is felt would benefit from this will be invited to participate. This group work may be issue based, e.g. young people who are living in similar situation and would benefit from an opportunity to discuss this, or skills based e.g. cookery or first aid.
Any young person who requires more intensive 1-1 support will be offered this.
As young carers needs change over time, their service plan is formally reviewed at regular intervals and amended as necessary. Reassessment is available at any stage if there is a significant change to a young person’s circumstances.
Once referred, the young carers can continue to access support from the project for as long as they require this, provided they continue to have a significant caring role. As each young person approaches adulthood, we support the transition to adult caring and ensure they have the necessary support in place before our involvement ends. Where a young person suddenly or unexpectedly finds that they are no longer in a caring role, e.g. following the death of the cared for person, or because they are taken into care, we phase our involvement in a timely manner, ensuring that the young person has appropriate ongoing support.
