Insight: Listening to Kinship Carers and Young People – What WorkWell Could Mean for Them

Background

Kinship carers are often the quiet heroes in our communities, grandparents who step in to raise their grandchildren when parents are unable to, often due to addiction or poor mental health. Many of these carers have had to give up work, face financial hardship, and carry the emotional weight of grief and responsibility.

We met with the Bridges Kinship Group to hear their thoughts on the new WorkWell service, which aims to help people with health conditions stay in work or return to work. We also heard from young people affected by Fetal Neonatal Syndrome (FNS), a condition caused by alcohol exposure in the womb that can lead to lifelong learning and behavioural challenges.

What could help

The group shared thoughtful ideas about what would make services like WorkWell more accessible and effective:

• Flexible support – starting with part-time hours and building up.
• Work buddies or mentors - someone consistent to guide and support.
• Face-to-face inductions – not just online.
• Employer education – especially around hidden disabilities like FNS.
• Life skills and confidence-building – starting in schools and continuing into adulthood.

Next steps

Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees will continue to share these insights with local partners and decision-makers. We’ll advocate for services like WorkWell to be shaped by the voices of those who need them most, and to ensure no one is left behind because their journey looks different.

Importantly, we will share these findings with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) as the WorkWell programme is developed, ensuring that the voices of people with lived experience help shape the service from the ground
up.