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Hertfordshire County Council

Young carers in Hertfordshire

 

 

Young carers in Hertfordshire

Are you under 18 and help to look after a friend or family member who has an illness, disability, mental health condition or addiction?

If so, you could be a young carer.

 

Young carers – get help

Parents

Professionals

 

 

 

A young carer is someone under 18 who cares for a friend or family member who cannot cope without their support.

 

 

A young carer might help with:

  • practical tasks like cooking, housework and shopping
  • physical care, such as helping someone out of bed
  • emotional support, including talking to someone who is distressed
  • personal care, such as helping someone dress
  • managing the family budget
  • collecting prescriptions and helping to give medicine
  • helping someone communicate, such as using sign language or interpreting
  • looking after brothers and sisters.

Those are just examples – every young carer and their situation is unique.

 

Help for young carers

 

Looking after someone can take up a lot of your time. It’s normal to find things difficult. You’re not alone and you can get help.

When you’re ready to reach out

You can talk to someone you trust about how you're feeling, like a teacher, support worker, health professional or someone involved in caring for the person you look after.

You can also contact us so we can work out what support might make things easier.

 

 

 

Parents

 

If you think your child may be a young carer, this might feel overwhelming and you might be worried about seeking support.

Seeking support for your child isn't about judging your parenting or your situation. It's about understanding what practical, emotional or financial support your child may need as a young carer.

 

Strategies for parents

Tell your school or college

 
Young carers tell us that it helps them if their school / college knows they are a young carer so teachers can offer support, flexibility with homework, and a safe space to go if having a bad day. Most schools / colleges have a young carers lead – find out who this is in your child’s school / college.
 

Complete our Day in the Life form

 
This helps us understand the care and support your child provides, how often they provide it, and how it affects them. We recommend that the form is completed with a trusted professional such as a teacher, support worker, health professional or someone who helps the cared for person. They can then discuss what support is available to the young person and your family.

If your child is 16 or under, they need your consent to complete this form. The form enables them to be registered as a young carer and access support as and when they need it.
 

Focus on mental health and fun

 
Encourage breaks, hobbies and opportunities for them to just be a child. 

  • Schools may run activities or groups.
  • Check the Hertfordshire Directory for local services and activities for young people.
     
Open dialogue
  • Talk openly in an age appropriate way about the illness or disability of the cared-for person to remove anxiety and validate their feelings. 
  • HertsHub – support to help your child improve their emotional wellbeing and mental health.
     
Check financial advice
  • Check if you're eligible for carers' benefits to relieve financial stress, which can indirectly support the child. 
  • If you're providing care and support to a child or young person, take a look at the support for parent carers.
  • If you're providing care and support to an adult, take a look at the support for adult carers.
     

 

 

Get involved

We're committed to ensuring the voices of young carers are heard. We can do this through gathering feedback by phone, in-person visits and in group settings. 

We use this to:

  • co-produce and implement improvements to services
  • communicate back to our children, young people and families on the impact of their voice.

We'd love to hear your views.

Leave a message
  • If you'd like a reply, please leave your contact details.

 

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