SCIE research briefing 11: The health and well-being of young carers

References

Click here for a full alphabetical list of the references.

(1) Pawson R., Boaz A., Grayson L., Long A., Barnes C. (2003). Types and Quality of Knowledge in Social Care. Knowledge Review 3. Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE),

This document analyses and defines the different types of knowledge and information which may inform social care research and practice.

(2) Becker S. (2000). Young Carers, in The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Social Work, ed. M. Davies. London, Blackwell.

This entry defines the term and concept of young carers.

(3) Becker S., Dearden C., Aldridge J. (2001). Young carers in the UK: research, policy and practice. Research Policy and Planning,

This article reviews the main research studies on young carers in the UK, examines the services available to support young carers, and identifies the implications for future policy and practice, particularly in social care.

(4) Aldridge J., Becker S. (2003). Children Caring for Parents with Mental Illness: Perspectives of Young Carers, Parents and Professionals. Bristol, Policy Press.

This book reviews the literature on young carers and other groups in relation to parents with mental illness, and offers a guide to relevant law and policy. It reports the findings of an in-depth qualitative study looking at the experiences and needs of children who care for a parent with mental illness. It also gives the perspectives of both parents and professionals.

(5) Dearden C., Becker S. (2000). Growing Up Caring: Vulnerability and Transition to Adulthood - Young Carers' Experiences. Joseph Rowntree Foundation,

This study examines the extent to which caring can influence young people's decisions and activities in relation to education, training and employment, leaving home and becoming an adult. It also looks at the impact of community care policies and services on these young people.

(6) Banks P., Cogan N., Deeley S., Hill M., Riddell S., Tisdall K. (2001). Seeing the invisible children and young people affected by disability. Disability and Society, 16 (6), 797-814.

This paper reports on two studies examining the nature of the role performed by young carers and its impact on their lives.
A Critical Appraisal of this article is available

(7) Olsen R. (1996). Young carers: challenging the facts and politics of research into children and caring. Disability and Society, 11 (1), 41-54.

This paper reviews and critically examines research on young carers.

(8) Keith L., Morris J. (1995). Easy targets: a disability rights perspective on the "children as carers" debate. Critical Social Policy, 45, 36-57.

This paper challenges the construction of the concept of 'young carers' employed by researchers and policy-makers.

(9) SCIE Research briefing 13. (2005). Helping parents with learning disabilities in their parenting role. Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE),

This is a research and policy briefing describing the issues faced by parents with learning disabilities and what they find helpful.

(10) SCIE Research briefing 14. (2005). Helping Parents with a Physical Disability or Impairment in their Parenting Role. Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE),

This is a research and policy briefing describing the issues faced by parents with physical disabilities and what they find helpful.

(11) Aldridge J. (2003). We didn't know they cared. Mental Health Today, July/August, 31-33.

This is a brief report of a two-year study looking at the needs and experiences of young carers who have parents with severe mental health problems.

(12) Dearden C., Becker S. (2004). Young Carers and Education(pdf). Carers UK,

This report looks at the effect of caring on young people's education.

(13) Dearden C., Becker S. (2004). Young Carers in the UK. The 2004 Report. London, Carers UK.

Report of the third national survey of young carers who are being supported by young carers’ projects in the UK.

(14) Dearden C., Becker S. (1998). Young Carers in the United Kingdom: A Profile. London, Carers National Association.

Second of a series of extensive surveys of young carers.

(15) Dearden C., Becker S. (1995). Young Carers: The Facts. Loughborough, Loughborough University.

First of a series of extensive surveys of young carers.

(16) Tatum C., Tucker S. (1998). The concealed consequences of caring: an examination of the experiences of young carers in the community. Youth and Policy, 61, 12-27.

This article offers an overview of the experiences and characteristics of young carers with reference to the findings of a small-scale qualitative study.

(17) Jones A., Jeyasingham D., Rajasooriya S. (2004). Invisible Families: the Strengths and Needs of Black Families in which Young People have Caring Responsibilities. Joseph Rowntree Foundation,

This study investigates the experiences and needs of young black people caring for disabled or ill family members and their access to services.

(18) Shah R., Hatton C. (1999). Caring Alone. Young Carers in South Asian Communities. Ilford, Essex, Barnardos.

This study examines the experiences of young carers in South Asian communities who were in contact with two young carers’ projects.
A Critical Appraisal of this article is available

(19) Walker A. (1996). Young Carers and Their Families. London, The Stationery Office.

This is a survey for the Department of Health carried out by the Social Services Division of the Office of National Statistics.

(20) Becker S., Aldridge J., Dearden C. (1998). Young Carers and Their Families. Oxford, Blackwell.

This book examines the background to young carers, their situation, their rights and their needs. It uses case studies to illustrate experiences, relationships and dynamics. It also discusses the effects of caring on the young person's health and psychosocial development, and considers the policy and legal context for young carers and their families, offering guidance on how best to implement policy.

(21) Crabtree H., Warner L. (1999). Too Much to Take On: A Report on Young Carers and Bullying. London, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

This is a study on the prevalence and effects of bullying on young carers

(22) Banks P., Cogan N., Riddell S., Deeley S., Hill M., Tisdall K. (2002). Does the covert nature of caring prohibit the development of effective services for young carers? British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 30 (3), 229-246.

This paper discusses the implications of the findings of reference 6 for the field of guidance and counselling.

(23) Frank J., Tatum C., Tucker C. (1999). On Small Shoulders: Learning from the Experiences of Former Carers. London, Children's Society.

This survey reports on the experiences of former carers.
A Critical Appraisal of this article is available

(24) Eley S. (2004). 'If they don't recognize it, you've got to deal with it yourself': gender, young caring and educational support. Gender and Education, 16 (1), 65-75.

This article discusses the findings of a small-scale, localized, qualitative study on the views of children and young people who are acting as young carers.
A Critical Appraisal of this article is available

(25) Doran T., Drever F., Whitehead M. (2003). Health of young and elderly informal carers: analysis of UK census data. British Medical Journal, 327 (7428), 1388.

This article provides a brief analysis of the caring responsibilities of young and elderly carers in the UK based on the 2001 census.
Full text available

(26) Armstrong C. (2002). Behind closed doors - living with a parent's mental illness. Young Minds,

This article reports the findings from a Young Carers Project in Glasgow, set up specifically for children caring for parents with mental health problems.
A Critical Appraisal of this article is available

(27) Frank J. (1995). Couldn't Care More: A Study of Young Carers and Their Needs. London, The Children's Society.

This book examines the needs of young carers, and considers the impact this responsibility has on their social, personal, emotional and educational development.

(28) Kachorek L.V., Shifren K. (2003). Does early caregiving matter? The effect on young caregivers' adult mental health. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 27 (4), 338-346.

This US study investigates the mental health of adults who were previously young carers.

(29) Thomas N., Stainton T., Jackson S., Cheung W.Y., Doubtfire S., Webb A. (2003). 'Your friends don't understand': Invisibility and unmet need in the lives of 'young carers'. Child and Family Social Work, 8 (1), 35-46.

This paper is a small-scale qualitative study seeking the views of young carers about their role and experiences.
A Critical Appraisal of this article is available

(30) Watson S. (1999). Meeting the needs of young carers. Nursing Standard, 13 (31), 37-40.

This article reports on the need for training for health professionals and teachers in the needs of young carers.
Abstract available

(31) Roche J., Tucker S. (2003). Extending the social exclusion debate: an exploration of the family lives of young carers and young people with ME. Childhood, 10 (4), 439-456.

This paper highlights the "common experience" of two groups of young people, especially with reference to social exclusion.

(32) Heal S., Mapp S., Clements L. (1995). Young carers: back them up. Community Care, 1094 (9 November), 21-23.

This article reports on a Young Carers Project in Wales.

(33) Newman T. (2002). "Young carers" and disabled parents: time for a change of direction? Disability & Society, 17 (6), 613-625.

This paper reviews and critically examines research on young carers.

(34) Booth T., Booth W. (1998). Growing Up with Parents who have Learning Difficulties. Joseph Rowntree Foundation,

This study explores the experiences of children brought up in a family headed by a parent or parents with learning difficulties.

(35) Cree V.E. (2003). Worries and problems of young carers: issues for mental health. Child and Family Social Work, 8 (4), 301-309.

This paper reports on a research study exploring the worries and problems of young carers in Edinburgh.
A Critical Appraisal of this article is available

(36) Bibby A., Becker S. (2000). Young Carers in their Own Words. London, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

This book describes the views and experiences of young carers and their relationships with adult professionals.

(37) Hill S. (1999). The physical effects of caring on children. Journal of Young Carers Work, 3, 6-7.

This article briefly examines some of the effects of caring on the physical health of young carers.

(38) Becker S., Dearden C. (1998). Unknown quantity. Community Care,

This article presents the results of the survey reported in reference 14 and places them in the context of current policy and legislation.

(39) Underdown A. (2002). "I'm growing up too fast": messages from young carers. Children and Society, 16 (1), 57-60.

This paper provides a general overview of the reported views of a survey of young carers.

(40) Coombes R. (1997). On the shoulders of children. Nursing Times, 97 (28), 10-11.

This article profiles a case where a school nurse was able to offer support to a young carer.

(41) Leece J. (2002). Extending direct payments to informal carers: some issues for local authorities. Practice, 14 (2), 31-44.

This article discusses the practical issues involved in the implementation of the Carers and Disabled Children Act (2000).

(42) Fox A. (2004). "Who cares about us?": the unmet needs of young carers. Childright, 209, 17-18.

This article discusses the lack of awareness of young carers' entitlements among professionals and young carers themselves.