Young carers in North Tyneside feel they have “missed out on their childhood” according to a Healthwatch report.
Healthwatch has consulted with the North Tyneside Carers Centre for the last two years to collect feedback from young carers and how they can be better supported. 104 young carers aged between five and twentyone took part.
The consultation discovered young carers have a number of concerns and worries and do not feel supported by a number of bodies.
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Many young carers have seen their caring responsibilities increase throughout the pandemic. Young carers reported an “inconsistent approach” to support young carers across different schools and from individual teachers.
As a result of their responsibilities they have poorer school attendance levels than pre-pandemic. They are worried about the longer-term impact on their attainment.
Many carers also said they are worried about the cost of living crisis and in work poverty adversely affecting their families. They also reported a rise of challenging behaviour and violence from siblings living with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
Carers have an increasing sense of isolation and a lack of understanding. One carer told Healthwatch: “What my friends talk about is totally irrelevant compared to the issues I am dealing with.”
As a consequence of these issues the report noted an increase in suicidal thoughts and self harm.
Paul Jones, representing Healthwatch North Tyneside, told North Tyneside’s health and wellbeing board: “It is fair to say there have been some really difficult conversations around very tricky situations for young carers. We have carers who are looking after parents who have alcohol addiction and looking after siblings as well as school.
“They are incredibly resilient people because they have had to deal with but they feel that their education and social development is suffering. That trend of carers feeling that they are missing out on their childhood is a real, wide issue for young carers.”
Healthwatch has drawn a list of recommendations to help improve the situation for younger carers.
The report said all teachers must be educated in recognising and supporting young carers. Schools will need to implement systems to help teachers know which pupils in their class have caring responsibilities.
Plans for future lockdowns should be in place so carers have continued access to support when required. Social workers should consider the impact on young carers when services are withdrawn or refused and whether the carer is providing excessive levels of care.
Healthwatch also suggests a review into the capacity to support carers and reduce waiting times.
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