Children's Needs – Parenting Capacity - Digital Education Resource ...

Child development and parents’ responses – adolescence 193When she [my mother] come back out of hospital and I was doing everything andI had the three kids as well and she went, what was it, she said something to melike ‘Have we swapped roles?’ I went, ‘What do you mean?’ and she went ‘Well I’mnot the mum anymore, you are’. I went, ‘Well what do you mean?’ She went ‘Welllook at all the things you’re doing, I’m meant to be doing all them’.(Debbie 18 years, quoted in Aldridge and Becker 2003, p.88)Although young people are often very able to care for their parents and youngersiblings, the effects can be all-pervasive and influence every aspect of their lives. Inmost cases young people do not wish to surrender the role of carer and may see it notas a burden but as a source of pride (Roberts et al. 2008). Nonetheless, they wanttheir contribution to be recognised, to be able to get practical help when needed, tohave access to reliable and relevant information, and for professionals to involve andinclude them in their parents’ treatment and care (Aldridge and Becker 2003).In many cases, however, their contribution is unknown because, despite policyand guidance to encourage greater inter-agency working, divisions betweenadults’ and children’s services continue, and professional oversight of the needs ofyoung carers is not uncommon (Cleaver et al. 2007). Research suggests that mostprofessionals working in the statutory sector assume that the needs of children andyoung people are met by young carers’ projects or that children are accustomed totheir circumstances and roles and so don’t need any additional support. ‘I judged he[young carer] was coping well enough’ (intensive support worker, quoted in Aldridgeand Becker 2003, p.121). Indeed, young carers’ projects are particularly valued byyoung people, but sadly their experiences of other services are more mixed and manyyoung people are left without practical or emotional support (Aldridge and Becker2003). Sadly, research shows that because young carers’ projects are primarily forchildren, young people aged 16 years and more are less likely to access their support(Dearden and Becker 2004). Services for young carers, particularly those lookingafter parents with alcohol or drug problems, will benefit from the £1 million grantsprogramme 2006/7 and 2007/8 given by Comic Relief to the Princess Royal Trustfor Carers (Princess Royal Trust for Carers 2009).To sum upKey problems for young people aged 16 years and over Inappropriate role models. Increased likelihood of early drinking, smoking and drug use. Greater risk of poor health, injuries and accidents as a result of early substancemisuse. Pregnancy and teenage motherhood.Problems related to sexual relationships.