WSCC Young Carers Family Service: support for siblings caring for sibling(s)

About

This is a West Sussex County Council service.

A sibling young carer is a child or young person under 18 who is impacted by significant caring responsibilities at home for a sibling that has a disability, has been ill for a long time, has a learning disability or has a problem linked to drugs or alcohol.

To be eligible for our service the sibling carer must have significant caring responsibilities in relation to the cared for sibling i.e. undertaking physical care e.g. personal care, lifting, feeding, washing and dressing, be emotionally impacted e.g. regularly witnessing emergency medical interventions or traumatic events, and/or the cared for has a life limiting condition.

Our priorities are to:
* make sure the young carer is safe and being looked after
* reduce the amount of caring a young person has to do if it is too much for them, by thinking about the needs of the whole family
* help the young carer to get more support at school or college
* make sure that the young carer gets a regular break and time for friends and fun
* check that the young carer is supported by other adults and professionals
* make sure that the young carer has someone to talk to when things are difficult
* check that the family are receiving all the support or financial benefits available
* improve the life opportunities of the young carer

What we do

  • Provide statutory young carer assessments and whole family work, offer transition assessments for young carers aged 15-17 and information, advice and support for parents
  • Offer to advocate and coordinate support with different services/agencies
  • Counselling and other therapies for the young carer, 1:1 mentoring with a volunteer
  • Monthly school-time groups for young carers aged 11-16; monthly groups for young carers aged 16-17 (together with young adult carers aged 18-21 in partnership with Carers Support West Sussex); positive activity days in the school holidays for young carers aged 8-11 and engagement activities with young carers aged 5-8.
  • Youth Volunteer role for young carers aged 16-17

Age range

0-17

Wheelchair accessible

Yes

Free to use

Yes

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