Strengthening support for Young Carers and families.

Work is ongoing to strengthen support being offered to young carers and their families in Highland through the provision of Young Carers Statements.

Members of The Highland Council’s Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee were updated on progress being made to ensure that Young Carers and their families receive appropriate support.

Cllr David Fraser, Chair of the Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee said: “It’s vital that we deliver the provision of Young Carers statements across Highland equitably to help to ensure that the lives of children and young people are not restricted, and their experiences and opportunities are not limited as they grow up.

“This work is reflected in the Council’s Administration Programme ‘Our Future Highland’ which is committed to ‘working together to improve quality of life and opportunities for Highland people’.”

He added: “Caring for others is not always a negative experience but we need to ensure that help and support is available to our Young Carers.”

Under The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016, Highland Council has a duty to prepare Young Carer Statements. These are support plans that contains information about:

• how much caring a young carer is doing and if they are able and willing to do it;
• what sort of care is undertaken and whether it is appropriate for them to do it; and
• the help and support needed to make sure that young carers are healthy, safe, and happy.

It is usually schools who offer and prepare the young carer statement. While Health and Social Care officers have a role in supporting young carers, the Council’s Education and Learning Service will take leadership responsibility for developing young carers support and provision.

Members noted that funding provided for local government is currently passed on to NHS Highland and that budget negotiations are ongoing with NHS Highland to ensure that the needs of young carers and their families are met by enabling the Council to meet its statutory function of providing young carers statements.

The Council is also engaging with the Carers Trust to deliver Young Carer Awareness Training for staff in Education who are helping to prepare Young Carer Statements.