Strengthening Support For Young Carers And Families In Highland
15th November 2023
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.
Related Businesses
Related Articles
In the light of the financial forecast for 2025-26, Highland Council is inviting you to tell us more in the budget preparation for the coming financial year. The budget engagement builds on extensive budget participation which took place in the winter of 2023-24.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Every year Highland Council invites all tenants to have their say on the rent levels for the following year. The Council encourages everyone that lives in a council house to take this chance to have their say.
Communities and Place Committee met yesterday (Wednesday 27 November 2024) and Members agreed the Highland Local Child Poverty Action Report which includes actions for delivery in 2024/25. Reducing child poverty is a priority for the Council and its partners.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Members of the Highland Council's Community and Place Committee have given their support to an action plan focusing on the operating of public conveniences over the next 10 years. Whilst not a statutory function, the Council is the main provider of public conveniences located throughout Highland, operating 74 sites.
A report published on 27 November 2024 by LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) looks at the state of funding for councils by the Scottish Government. Confidence in the sustainability of council finances is critically low.
At today's (Wednesday 27 November 2024) Communities & Place Committee, Members agreed the most appropriate long-term strategic direction for residual waste management is to continue to utilise a merchant provider solution. Communities & Place Committee Chair, Cllr Graham MacKenzie said: "After careful consideration and analysis it has been agreed that a merchant provider solution is considered the most appropriate long term solution to our statutory waste management obligations, and that an energy-from- waste facility within the Highlands is not considered to be a suitable course of action.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
The Highland Council welcomes confirmation by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Shona Robison that the Scottish Government will enable The Highland Council to use up to £28m of its funding through the Inverness & Highland City Region Deal to deliver a new electric Corran Ferry. The vessels used on the route are in need of replacement and this funding announcement, alongside the existing investment commitments.
