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Minimum wage not enough for all young people

Barnardo's is concerned that today's announcement by the Government to introduce a minimum wage for 16-18yr olds of £3 an hour will not provide enough money to survive on for many young people.

'We welcome the principle to introduce a minimum wage for 16-18 year olds, the sum is totally inadequate as a living wage,' said Barnardo's policy officer, Neera Sharma. 'While it may be enough for supported young people working part time and living at home with their parents, it will not lift many young people who have to work full time above poverty levels.'

Neera continued, 'Barnardo's has 59 projects that work with young people living independently. These young people are already discriminated against in the benefit system. Surely they are entitled to earn the same as an 18 year old for producing the same goods and services?'

The new minimum wage for under 18s will pay £105 for a 35 hour week an amount that Barnardo's considers to be insufficient.

Barnardo's is also concerned that there are no plans to upgrade the amount paid to young people on government-approved training contracts. Young people who are currently working towards a qualification on a training contract earn just £40 a week, an amount that is completely inadequate and a disincentive to begin a placement.

In a speech at the spring Labour Party conference, Tony Blair announced plans that will require all 16 year olds to stay at school or take another form of job training or apprenticeship. However without an increase in the amount paid to those on training schemes, job training will not be a financially viable prospect. Young people on training contracts will continue to be penalised for wanting to train and gain a qualification and learn much needed practical skills.

In February 2004 young people from Barnardo's projects launched a national report calling for an increase in training allowances for 16- 18year olds. "Trained Up! Let Down!" describes life for young people on training programmes in their own words. It reveals how young people feel undervalued and excluded despite their best efforts to train for the labour market and take their first steps towards full adult life.

Barnardo's want to see a co-ordinated approach to meeting the financial needs of young people and this would include an increase in the amount paid to young people as a minimum wage and to those on training contracts.

NURSERY NURSE STRIKE EFFECT ON SCOTTISH EMPLOYERS

Employers Should Be Aware Of Regulations For Scottish Parents Requesting Time Off During Strike

As the Scottish Nursery Nurse Strike near the end of its second week, employment law experts at Croner Consulting Scotland are warning employers to be aware of employee rights to time off for dependants.

With Unison claiming that up to 4,000 nurses are involved in the all out dispute, which is still affecting many areas of Scotland, employers across the country may be suffering as parents request time off to look after their children. Jackie Mann of Croner Consulting Scotland is advising employers to make sure they have a time off for dependents policy in place.

“Parents are entitled to time off for dependents, but the right is for emergencies only. For example, a parent may need time off to arrange emergency cover for their child after their normal childcare arrangements fall through,” says Jackie. “However, this right to time off would not cover extended periods at home to look after the child in the absence of that childcare.”

Employees are entitled to a reasonable amount of time off under the time off for dependants regulations and it is intended to cover only the time required to deal with the immediate problem. This time off will vary, but in most cases this should not exceed one or two days. For the time off to be justifiable, the employee’s presence or attendance must be crucial to resolving the problem. The employer also has the right to know how long the employee intends to be off work. If this information is not known, the employer should be kept advised.

“Employers should not be expected to give employees extended periods of time off during the nursery nurse strike, as this was announced well in advance of the nursery nurses taking the action. However, most employers will probably take a sympathetic view in this case.”

Time off for dependants is leave which is unpaid and covers not only children. A dependant is defined as a spouse, child or parent of the employee, or someone who lives in the same house such as a partner or an elderly relative, but not tenants, lodgers and boarders.

Jackie advises employers to be fully aware of the types of situations where time off for dependants is justified. The most common situations include; where a dependant falls ill, gives birth or is injured; the death of a dependant; unexpected incidents during school hours or disruption of arrangements for the care of a dependant.

In situations where an employer is faced with several employees requesting time off for dependants, they should try to accommodate where possible. However, the employer can also consider the needs of the business and in such cases staggering the time off may be appropriate.

“Having a time off for dependants policy in place is important so that all employees are clear about their entitlement,” says Jackie. “Employers should also be aware that each employee, regardless of whether they are part time, full time, permanent or temporary, are entitled to time off for dependants.”

PREVENTION TOPS AGENDA FOR ‘CY’

Caledonia Youth, Scotland’s largest independent provider of sexual health services for young people, will bring more than 30 years experience to the Forth Valley region as it opens a new facility at 110 High Street in Falkirk town centre today (11 March). As part of its drive to provide equitable access to information and services in Scotland, Caledonia Youth is committed to informing more young people about sexual health and associated risks through its education, training workshops and clinics.

With the expansion funded by the Scottish Executive, Caledonia Youth has worked in partnership with Forth Valley NHS Board to determine the level of service provision for the region. Services will be aimed at young men and women aged 25 and under, with particular relevance to teenagers. It will also include vital work with vulnerable groups, such as those with learning difficulties, youngsters attending special schools, or in care.

Caledonia Youth chief executive, Mrs Hawys Kilday, one of the expert group who has contributed to the proposals for the National Sexual Health and Relationships Strategy in Scotland, said: "Our experience points to a strong cohort of young people who are much more likely to wait until they are older to start sexual relationships, or act more responsibly, when they are given all the facts. Surely this is something to which we all aspire?

"To achieve this, our clear focus is on education and training with prevention central to our aims, as we endeavour to reduce the prevalence of unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among young people in this country.

"We spend a great deal of time listening to their concerns and talking about negotiation skills and relationship issues in a confidential, non-judgemental way. It is about eradicating irresponsible sexual behaviour and avoiding feelings of coercion, regret and disrespect, by helping them make informed choices. In doing so, we address social issues along with emotions and attitudes."

In Forth Valley, CY aims to echo the level of trust and understanding it already achieves with young people elsewhere in Scotland. It will also provide a comprehensive programme of bespoke training to the wide variety of workers and professionals who themselves interact with young people. Social and youth workers, foster carers, school nursing staff and guidance teachers are amongst those who will be targeted with workshops.

The Scottish Executive began funding expansion of Caledonia Youth services in 2002 with new facilities in Glasgow and Dundee. Negotiations will begin in the near future for a base to serve the Grampian region.

Details about clinic hours, education and training workshops in Forth Valley, are available by calling staff on 01324 617161, or by email at: information@caledoniayouth.org. The High Street facility is located opposite Boots. More information is also available at www.caledoniayouth.org.

WHO LISTENS UP TO DISABLED CHILDREN?

Is Britain really a nation of complainers? Not if you are a child with a learning disability. Disabled children are expected to ‘put up or shut up’ with things they don’t like. They are expected to feel grateful that they are getting any help at all. Any complaints they do make about places such as hospitals, schools or play schemes are often ignored. This leaves them feeling sad, isolated and confused. Although virtually all of these services now have complaints procedures they are not accessible to children with a learning disability.

To tackle this problem Mencap has developed Listen Up, a new multi-media pack funded by the Community Fund, to help disabled children complain about the services they use.

Kate, aged 19, who has physical and learning disabilities did not like the short breaks unit that she had been going to from the age of 10. She did not like the group of young people there, she hardly got any sleep and was given chips every night when she was trying to stick to a healthy eating plan. Kate said: “I couldn’t say anything as I knew my mum needed me to go into respite.”

Kate was aware that her mum needed a break because she had a bad back so could not help with lifting and was worried that if she complained the place would be taken away from her. In fact, if Kate had felt able to complain the unit staff might have easily been able to make some changes.

Children with severe learning disabilities are often the most disadvantaged because there are so many barriers to staff listening and acting on their concerns.
They often use non-speech forms of communication, such as turning away from an activity or subtle signs such as facial expressions or withdrawing eye contact. This means that staff may not have the training or tools to help them detect what the child is trying to communicate.

For example, it is only very recently that symbols and signs for abuse have been added to communication systems used by children with a learning disability.

Children with severe learning disabilities are often long term users of support services such as short breaks or holiday play schemes. They are also more likely than other children to spend time in hospital. But staff in hospitals, schools and leisure services often lack the resources to help find out what disabled children like or dislike. Choices are not explained to them and they are often left feeling frustrated, confused or ignored.

Jo Williams, Mencap’s Chief Executive said: “Despite the introduction of complaints procedures for children, they are often not accessible for disabled children. Children with severe learning disabilities pick up from parents and professionals the scarcity of resources and the lack of choice and they do not want to risk services being taken away from them. Parents are often expected to be grateful recipients of services and are regarded as demanding and difficult if they raise any concerns on behalf of their child. The Listen Up pack will give disabled children, parents and professionals the tools they need, so that disabled children’s views are valued and they get the services they want and need.”

Halivia, mother of Tania who has severe and profound learning disabilities said:
“Tania needs 24 hour care and it is not always easy to get the right kind of support. It takes lots of time to get to know Tania, what she likes and dislikes because she does not communicate verbally. There are no complaints procedures set up that really help. I hope the pack will help staff to see children with severe learning disabilities as individuals, respond to their needs and act on parent’s complaints on their behalf.”

The Listen Up Pack provides the tools to enable children to complain and supports staff in responding to them. The packs include posters, complaints cards and a board game for children. There is a training video and workbook for staff and a leaflet about complaints for parents. There is also CD -ROM of extra resources to help parents and staff customise any of the products for individual children.

Helen Jackson, Team Manager, Norfolk County Council said: ”Listen Up is a really valuable pack. We need to enable disabled children to understand their right to make choices about their lives and to complain when services aren't right for them. It has been fun working on the development of the pack and I hope the Listen Up materials will support staff in putting the message across that all children have the right to make choices. It will be good to have quality, well produced resources to support our work."

• Listen Up is funded by the Community Fund and free packs are available from The Learning Disability Helpline on 0808 808 1111 (England) or visit www.mencap.org.uk/listenup to order online

GATESHEAD COUNCIL TACKLES NON-ATTENDANCE IN THE COURTS

Gateshead Council has taken the dramatic step of taking a number of local parents to court - in an effort to get their children into school every day.

Cases were heard at Gateshead Magistrates Court, after Gateshead Council had made attempts to ensure their child attended school on a regular basis.

Several parents received small fines in court, however two parents, who also failed to attend the hearings, received substantial fines of £800 plus costs, for, "failing to ensure their child's regular and punctual attendance", under the 1996 Education Act.

This was the second time the parents had been fined, having previously received, again in their absences from court, fines of £600 plus costs.
However, the fine for such cases, can go as high as £2,500 for each parent, depending on circumstances.

Two other parents were given fines of £500 plus costs, again after previous fines, and again in their absence from the Magistrate Courts.

Before the cases eventually went to court, Gateshead Council had spent time to try to find out why the children were not attending school, in order to help both parents and the children concerned.

This included talking to parents, teachers, family members, Educational Welfare Officers, health bodies and school governors.

During those discussions, problems raised such as home care issues, bullying, homework, schoolwork and other non-school related problems, could be solved with the help of Gateshead Council employees and other local organisations.

In the vast majority of non-attendance cases, this help, advice and support ensures that children attend school regularly, and continue to develop, learn and flourish.

Parents were also invited to attend monthly non-attendance panels in a last-ditch attempt to get them to be more responsible for their child's education, welfare and social development.

Councillor John McElroy Gateshead Council's Cabinet Member for Learning and Culture said: "Although it may seem shocking for Gateshead Council to have to take parents to court, it really is a last resort for us to take this action.

"But we do have a legal duty as regards the education of local children, and we will continue to enforce that duty, after we have exhausted every possible way of helping children and their parents."

"It has to be said that the vast majority of local parents ensure their children regularly attend school.

"There are almost 30,000 children attending schools in Gateshead, and this tiny handful of court cases shows the effort that Gateshead Council puts into working with parents and children, to solve attendance problems that crop up occasionally."