Young carers to train school nurses
Tristan Donovan
Monday, April 15, 2013
Children are to train school nurses in how best to support young carers, the Department of Health has announced.
The move will see 300 young carers become "school nurse champions" who will help England’s 1,200 school nurses to help them get the support they want.
Children’s health minister Dan Poulter said: “School nurses play a crucial role in improving health and supporting young people. I want them to have an even bigger role and provide even better support for more young people with different health needs and conditions.
“Young carers are often under incredible pressure both at home and at school. School nurses can do a lot to give young carers a voice and help ease that pressure.”
Dr Moira Fraser, director of policy and research at Carers Trust, said the charity was “heartened” by the move.
“School nurses are ideally positioned to play a pivotal role in the lives of young people,” she said.
“They are well placed to identify young carers earlier and implement preventative support while reducing the negative impact on the health and wellbeing of young carers by initiating support for the whole family.
“We are pleased that young carers themselves will shape the work of school nurses by training them in how to provide the best support.”
There are an estimated 700,000 young carers in the UK.
