Young carers - professional resources
Young carers are children who help look after a member of the family who is sick, disabled or has mental health problems. The 2001 census revealed there are more than 175,000 young carers in the UK.
Barnardo's runs 14 projects to support young carers. Our services keep families together and make it possible for a child just to be a child. Click here to find out more about the issues, our services and our recent media campaign around young carers.
Our publications for professionals interested in young carers are listed below. To see the rest of our publications for professionals browse our Books and Tools section.
Keeping the family in mind
FREE report
Based on Barnardo’s work in 12 specialist young carer projects across the UK, this report explores the lives and needs of children and young people who care for parents with mental health problems. Case study material supports an agenda for providing improved support.
Download the full report for FREE (PDF)
Building a better future:
Disabled parents and their children
FREE summary available
Disabled parents’ restricted access to employment, housing, transport, health care and education can result in the social exclusion of their children. This 100 page discussion document explores the issues and asks questions like:
- how can we support children without undermining parents?
- how might we reduce the need for children to care for disabled relatives?
- can we promote children’s welfare without resorting to images of disability that are patronising?
Download a FREE summary (PDF)
Buy this publication online
Meeting the needs of black and minority ethnic young carers
FREE report
This literature review and research study is based on work carried out through Barnardo's Willow Young Carers Service. It explores the current situation for BME young carers and draws practical conclusions that suggest how the service can best support its users. The research used focus groups and interviews with young people and families, inlcuding young people who were referred but did not take up Willow's services.
Dowload the full report for FREE (PDF)
Visit the Willow Young Carers microsite
Say it your own way
How can we truly involve children in decision-making? We may bring a child into a meeting, or visit their home, but do we really listen and allow them to communicate comfortably? This guide and CR-ROM resource have been developed to help professionals:
- explain assessment processes to children
- help children express their feelings with creative methods
- develop insight into children’s understanding of what is happening
Fit for purpose?
Does your staff have the confidence and knowledge to deal with children, young people and families affected by substance misuse issues? Especially written for teams that do not specialise in substance misuse – but who work with people who are affected by it, this workforce planning tool has been designed by practitioners, for practitioners.
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