Tools and Resources for Practitioners

Being a carer can mean lots of different things - for young people caring for a member of their family could make them a young carer. Young carers are people under 18 years old who look after a family member who has a disability, illness, or is affected by drug and alcohol use. Caring can include cooking, cleaning, helping with bills or providing emotional support. 

If you work with young people, then it is highly likely that you work with young carers too!

We are all responsible for ensuring young carers in Manchester are providing a level of care that is appropriate; know what their rights are; and are not spending so much time caring for someone else that it impacts on their school work, having time to relax or seeing their mates.

Please view the downloads section for tools and resources available to practitioners supporting Young Carers, including:

 

Manchester Young Carers Strategy and Pathway to Support

Manchester’s Young Carers Strategy 2017–2019 was co-produced with Young Carers through their ‘Be Bothered’ campaign. To ensure our strategy still reflects the current context and the voice of Young Carers, our refresh builds on the previous work and the learning from it. It has been informed by Young Carers including the Young Carers transition report, December 2018.

The Young Carers Strategy 2020 - 2023 has been developed with young carers and other key partners in health, education and the voluntary sector. The Strategy aims to support young carers to be protected from inappropriate caring, to achieve their full potential and to have access to the same opportunities as their peers. 

The Young Carers Pathway highlights the support for young carers as part of the Early Help Offer, this approach will ensure all young carers are identified at the earliest opportunity with seamless pathways to support using a graduated response.

 

 

Manchester Young Carers in School Award

Young Carers in School Manchester Award 

If you would like to know more about the Young Carers in School Award and support is available to Manchester Young Carers  please contact Kelly Hockaday - Young Carers Coordinator at Manchester City Council  k.hockaday@manchester.gov.uk

Early Help Training and Development E-Learning section

Effective Early Help is essential to improve the life chances of Manchester’s children, young people and their families. 

The Young Carers Pathway highlights the support for young carers as part of the Early Help Offer, this approach will ensure all young carers are identified at the earliest opportunity with seamless pathways to support using a graduated response.

Please see our training and Resource section to access our FREE Early Help e-learning course, there is also the opportunity to gain professional accreditation here

We also utilise tools to aid Young Carer Assessments.  These assessment tools are called the MACA (Multi-dimensional Assessment of Caring Activities) and PANOC (Positive and Negative Outcomes of Caring). These tools are quick and easy to complete and are in a questionnaire format.

The use of assessment tools can help us to better understand what practical support a young carer is providing as well as how they feel about it. They can also help the practitioner to identify caring activities that may not be appropriate and require a more targeted response.  

The forms are available on one document and include guidance on how to use and score the answers. If you would like further advice and guidance on how to use the MACA & PANOC please contact your local Early Help Hub.

North Early Help Hub - 0161 234 1973

Central Early Help Hub - 0161 234 1975

South Early Help Hub - 0161 234 1977

Engage toolkit, supporting black, asian and minority ethnic (BAME) young carers and their families

This resource from The Children's Society aims to provide practitioners working with children and families affected by ill health and disability with information, resources and links to help develop and implement best policy and practice for services to identify and support black and minority ethnic young carers and their families.

This site was originally funded by the Department of Health in order to provide an understanding of the needs of black and minority ethnic family carers and best practice support.

https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/youngcarer/engage-toolkit

The Whole Family Pathway

Whole Family Pathway

The Whole Family Pathway was developed by The Children's Society and is a resource for all practitioners in every Local Authority across England

Young carers do not care in isolation from the rest of their family. Although they may need support for themselves, their needs should also be considered and met in the context of their whole family.

Using the Whole Family Pathway will help practitioners to implement the changes in legislation for young carers and their families outlined in the Care Act 2014 and Children and Families Act 2014

Young Carers Transition to Adulthood

Developed by The Children's Society this tool ‘Young Carers’ Transition to Adulthood’ is an extension to the Whole Family Pathway. Using this tool will enable professionals to effectively respond to the needs of young carers as they transition to adulthood

The pathway is a resource for all practitioners in every local authority across England and has been produced as part of The Government’s Carers Action Plan, commissioned and funded by the Department of Health and Social Care.

You can access the pathway on the download section on the left-hand side of this page. 

The Voices of Manchester Young Carers

We know that for many young carers, seeking help can be difficult and often young carers are hidden from view and are not receiving the support they deserve and need.

There are lots of reasons for this: sometimes young carers don’t recognise that they are carers and might see their caring as just something they do; for others there is a real worry about what would happen if they told someone that they are caring; and for many they worry people just won’t understand their role.

“One of the biggest things we as young carers face, is that no one understand what we do in our caring roles” (A Manchester Young Carer)

Everyone has a part to play in making sure carers are seen, heard, and understood; and helping them to get the support they need to care.

On the 31st of January 2020 we held a Young Carers Awareness event at UKFast to mark National Young Carers Awareness day and celebrate our Young Carers!  

The event was co-produced and delivered by a number of Manchester Young Carer and Young Adult Carer Groups, who through a series of letters gave us a glimpse into the lives of young carers and importantly explained how together, we can make a difference and better support them! 

Please show your support and take the time to read their letters to you!

 

Dear Teacher

Dear Early Help Practitioner  

Dear Tutor

Dear Health Care Professional 

Dear Youth Worker 

Dear Social Worker

These letters are available in poster format, please do get in touch if you would like a copy to display!  

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