STATEMENT OF SERVICE.

Introduction

Surrey Young Carers Project is one of three projects managed by Action for Carers (Surrey). Surrey Young Carers Project is constantly expanding, and aims to promote the needs of young carers in all child care and adult settings. The project receives funding from Adult and Community Care services, the Carers Grant, the Children Fund and the Learning and Skills Council.

The project was started in 1996 and since then has grown in staffing numbers as more young carers are identified and referred to the project.

The project will:

• Support young carers (up to the age of 18) in both an individual and group setting around issues of caring.
• Provide an advocacy service for young carers.
• Work with young carers to enable them to achieve their full potential as young people.
• Raise awareness and promote the needs of young carers within a multi-agency setting.

Surrey Young Carers Project offers free impartial information and support to young carers

What we offer-a range of services for young carers.

• A full assessment of the needs of individual young carers, which includes discussion on interests and aspirations (this does not replace the statutory Young Carers Assessment).
• An individual agreed action plan.
• Young Carers Groups.
• Information and advice on an individual and family basis.
• A chance to meet other young carers.
• Short term breaks for the young carer.
• Issue based workshops.
• A schools project- which works within primary and secondary schools in the West of the County. PHSE lessons, teacher training, individual and group sessions with other young carers.
• Individual grants to enable young carers to try activities they are otherwise unable to try.
• A young carer’s website.
• Awareness raising sessions with both statutory and voluntary agencies.

Limitations of the service.

The office at Reigate is on the first floor of an old house and there is no wheelchair access or lift, which makes it unsuitable for physically disabled carers. The offices at Astolat, Guildford are on the first floor and are accessed by a lift. However, the majority of our work takes place in people’s homes or at a convenient location.

Care is taken when using outside venues that they have disabled access.

At time of writing all our resources are printed in English, but we are about to produce information in Urdu and on audio.

Surrey Young Carers Project is not an emergency service.

What you can expect from us.

• Staff will be courteous and professional.

• Staff will be present at the time agreed and you will be notified promptly if there is a change to arrangements.

• We are an equal opportunities employer.

• All users of our service will be treated equally and will receive information, advice and guidance to achieve their fill potential irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability or race.

• We adhere to Action for Carers Surrey’s policies and regulations for employment, data protection, equal opportunities, health and safety and cod of conduct. All policies are available on request.

• We adhere to our own policies in respect to the protection of children, confidentiality and anti-bullying amongst others. All policies are available on request.

• All our staff are Criminal Records Bureau Checked.

• All staff are subject to regular supervision and to an annual appraisal. They will have an agreed Work Plan, which will detail core training requirements, as well as specific areas of identified training to achieve the necessary areas of competence. They will also attend specialist courses offered by Carers UK, Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Surrey Community Action and Connexions.

• If we are unable to help a young person, we can refer them to other agencies, including specialist ones.

• We shall report any child care concerns to the appropriate agency with the prior agreement of the co-ordinator, and where appropriate the permission of the young person.

What we expect from you.

• That our staff and the service we provide are treated respectfully.

• That you inform us of cancelled appointments.

How you can help us improve the service.

            You can help us improve the service in the following way:

• Help us by filling in and returning any evaluation forms you are given or sent.

• We will use your feedback to make changes that will improve the service we offer. These will be considered at staff meetings and changes made where practicable.

Complaints Procedure.

Surrey Young Carers Project adheres to Action for Carers (Surrey) Complaints Procedure; a full copy is available on request. A summary of the three-stage procedure is as follow:

• Informal-verbal-in person or by phone.
• Formal, which may involve verbal and/or written complaints.
• Appeal Panel.

Confidentiality and Data Protection.

Surrey Young Carers Project confidentiality policy is available on request.

We are bound and abide by the Data Protection Act 1998 and its 8 principles, which require that data must be:

• Processed fairly and lawfully.
• Obtained and processed for specific lawful purposes.
• Used or disclosed only in matters compatible with that purpose or purposes.
• Adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to that purpose or purposes.
• Accurate and up-to-date.
• Kept only for as long as necessary.
• Available to the individual at reasonable intervals and without undue delay or expense with regards to any data user and where appropriate, to have such data corrected or erased.
• Securely kept, with guards against unauthorised access to, alteration of, disclosure or destruction of personal data and against accidental loss or destruction of such data.