Letter: Supporting pregnant teens

The young woman in question is 19 and this was her second pregnancy.

She had already made an appointment to see our sexual health nurse, andwas coming to me as someone she trusts.

I manage a voluntary sector project that works in partnership with ourlocal authority to meet the needs of looked-after children and careleavers.

Young people use us because we are independent, confidential (within theusual limits), and have trained counsellors in the team, includingmyself.

Our service mission statement is that first and foremost we givevulnerable young people space to talk and help enable them to make thebest choices for their future.

I was especially pleased that Ruth mentioned the Teenage Pregnancy Unitguidance. Many social work staff are unaware of it and believe thatthey're unable to support young people to make positive choices aboutsexual health and/or pregnancy. I was closely involved in the updatingof this document several years ago. I would urge all social care staffto familiarise themselves with it. For further reading I would alsosuggest the fpa/National Children's Bureau publication and trainingpackage Let's Make it Happen, which focuses on the issues that Ruthraises.