Service User Perspectives: Being a young carer
Learning objectives
Having watched these videos, you should have a better understanding of how a young carer might feel about their interactions with a social worker and you should be able to develop your approach to ensure you are effectively meeting their needs.
Nicole is one of 11 children, the eldest still living at home, and responsible for looking after her mum, who has a bad back as well as mental health issues and a learning disability, and her siblings. In these videos, Nicole talks with Maggie – the manager of a young carer’s service - about being a young carer and her experience of social workers.
Nicole is just one of four young people who describe their experience of being carers, and their experience of social workers, in A Guide to Statutory Social Work Interventions. You can out more about this book by following this link.
Being a young carer
Message to social workers
Reflective Questions
1. What particular challenges could present themselves when working with children and young people?
2. What particular skills do you think are needed to work effectively with children and young people?
3. Maggie refers to bringing a box of colouring pens or toy cars with her when she first meets a child for the first time to help put them at ease. How else might you try and put a child or young person for more comfortable?
4. Think about any placements you have been on that involved children or young people, how successfully do you feel you, or the person you were shadowing, engaged with them? What do you feel went well and what do you feel could have been done differently?