How Sarah used the Human Rights Act to improve the rights of young carers

Listening to other people and responding to their views is an essential part of treating everyone with equality, respect and fairness. But one group coming into contact with mental health services – young carers – felt ignored.

Helping them voice their needs has been children’s charity Barnardos, which through its Action for Young Carers project has been working in partnership with Mersey Care to ensure their rights, and the rights of their family members, are respected.

Taking a human rights-based approach Mersey Care recognised that under the Human Rights Act everyone has a right to a private, family life. But the experience of children was that they were generally overlooked by health professionals. When youngsters were able to visit family members it was on busy inpatient wards, an environment far from comforting, private or with dignity for the families concerned.

Sarah Keen, now aged 23, was one of the first group of young carers to get involved eight years ago. She said: “I remember visiting my mum and asking staff at the time if there was anywhere we could go to sit and talk privately, but there just wasn’t."

“The ward was noisy and I was nervous having some of the other patients around. All I wanted was some space and time to be with my mum."

“When we started talking to Barnardos and the Trust started listening to us through them, it was just simple things like a comfortable homely room, somewhere private and with a few toys, that made all the difference.”

By listening to the views of young carers like Sarah, Mersey Care has created dedicated visiting areas just for families, each of which is tested to receive a “Jellybaby” seal of approval from the young carers.