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Assumptions about Black and South Asian families block access to support

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(Photo credit: Gift Habeshaw) 

An emerging theme from our research is the power of stereotypes. Over simplified images of Black and South Asian families have stopped parents from being able to get the support they need since the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month I interviewed Dr Wahida Kent, a registered social worker and academic in Wales, who explained how the unmet needs of BME families is a long standing issue - exacerbated by service stoppages due to COVID-19. Kent’s insight is based on her research with Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) families caring for children with life limiting illnesses. This blog highlights three assumptions that need to be avoided in order to improve access to support.  

 (Photo credit: Unsplash, Joel Muniz 

Assumptions about faith-based support  

Places of worship, including churches and temples, have worked hard to support people in their local area throughout the pandemic. But this varies depending on location.   

There are also assumptions made that in BME communities, that it’s all these religious organisations that are running food runs and stuff like that, whereas that’s not actually the case

 As a result there are gaps in support related to food poverty. Although religious organisations are important and greatly appreciated, it should not be assumed that faith-based groups are sufficiently plugging gaps in statutory support.  

(Photo credit: Unsplash, Gus Moretta) 

Assumptions about families’ resilience  

Some families have been able to cope with multiple struggles: maintaining emotional and physical health; managing money; securing housing; precarious employment; and racism – all of which were exacerbated due to COVID-19. But the capacity to juggle these, in addition to caring for children with disabilities, is not a given.  

there are a lot of assumptions made about the resilience and the support that’s out there for BME communities, that actually isn’t there.  There’s no evidence for it. And so the very people who should be supporting them are abdicating responsibility by referring to something that actually doesn’t exist

Parents who are refugees and asylum seekers are scared that asking for help will make them conspicuous or be seen as a burden and increase their risk of deportation. When this silence is assumed to be resilience, the isolation and vulnerability of children with disabilities is exacerbated.  

Assumptions about multi-generational households  

Media coverage of multi-generational households and the spread of COVID-19 has entrenched stereotypes. This paints a false image that all children with disabilities in South Asian families are well supported. As a consequence, the vulnerabilities faced by parent carers of people with disabilities are underestimated and used to deny access to support because decisions are made for them.  

…choice is removed from the BME families. So, there’s a stark gap between legislation, policy, procedures and the reality…They’re [support workers] resorting to outdated stereotypes, making assumptions based on stereotypes, they’re not adopting a person-centred approach to assessment and looking at that particular citizen’s situation

Understanding multiple demands on families, beyond numbers of household members, is more difficult when assessments are conducted online. On screen, it may look like family members are on hand to give 24 hour care. But if a mother has health issues, and siblings are working multiple jobs, then they need help and respite.  

(Photo credit: Unsplash, Claudia Wolff) 

Mind the gap 

Overall, there is a mismatch between perceptions of how families cope and the needs of BME parents. In theory, policies such as the Care Act 2014 ensure a person-centred approach that listens to the voices of service users. But in practice “people have no voice. They’ve been shouting, screaming and begging and begging and roaring for help and they’re not getting it”. Co-POWeR is platforming the voice of children, young people and families to challenge assumptions and stereotypes that block their access to support.   

Dr Wahida Kent’s research titled “Who supports the families of black and minority ethnic children with life-limiting conditions?” is available online 

Blog post by Dr Teresa Perez 

On behalf of the WP2 team