What's the latest you would leave your teen home alone regularly?

[Smartiesteapot]

Bit of a conundrum really.
I have been in my old position at work since dd was small. She is now fourteen. I am a single parent. I have always worked 9-5 which has worked out well until now.

I am coming to the end of my current contract as they have down sized as a company dramatically and interviewing for other positions. I've been looking for normal office areas where possible but my problem is most of the jobs near us are shift work in call centres. One interview I had last week was shifts on a three week rota of anything up to midnight.

So for three weeks at a time 14 year old dd will go out at 7am and I would go out at 2.30pm and get back around 1.30am.

I am really not happy about this tbh. It would basically mean that in affect dd was completely on her own in a first floor flat with no current neighbour in an emergency from 4pm to 1am for three week blocks every nine weeks.

To add to this dd does have some sen related to Dyspraxia and processing and needs constant reminders to take medicine, wets herself, has microwaved tins etc.

Stressed!

A def no in your situation, she doesn't sound ready for that level of responsibility. It's a long time on a regular basis for an NT teen.

Just to add it was only a phone interview so I couldn't ask loads but she did say the shifts were essential.
I'm meant to be attending an in person interview next week and don't know what to do.

I wouldn't want to leave my (almost) 14 year old on his own after school till 1am on a regular basis - and he has no SEN.

I agree with your instinct that this is probably just a bit too much at the moment.

I wouldn’t. If it feels wrong then it usually is.

No, it's too long & too late

I am generally quite relaxed about the idea of leaving teens home alone, my parents did it whilst as work but I definitely would not in the situation you describe - even if the teen didn’t have SEN.

Is there any way you could look for a job with more regular hours a bit further afield? Even an hour away would mean you were home by 6 or 6.30.

Thank you.
I'm not under the job centre as yet as I am trying to get a new job before it reaches that stage but from what I can gather single parents of those children age 13 and over can't limit hours to school hours under universal credit and there are horror stories about people being sanctioned for not working shifts and even nights which is why I'm a bit stressed.

I am commuter. I'm about 13 miles outside a major city so looking all over there too. It was the information the job centre gave me when I queried which has concerned me really.

I've interviewed for a job today that will get me home half an hour to an hour at the back of her which I have no issue with.

No, I don't see this working at all, she obviously needs supervision. How difficult for you. Hope something with better hours comes along.

from what I can gather single parents of those children age 13 and over can't limit hours to school hours under universal credit I would get clarification on this - I can understand that you don't need to be there for pick up and drop off at this age, but I can't believe they'd expect you work a night shift as a single parent. It doesn't sound at all ok for your dd - even if she didn't have additional needs. Fingers crossed for the interview you've just had - that sounds much more doable.

Best of luck with the interview Smartiesteapot

No, that would be way too long for my comfort levels. An hour or two max. Teens need parenting.

I've a 16yr old and no, I wouldn't, she'd manage perfectly well, it's more the chatting, catching up on a daily basis that would bother me long term, and I hope to holiday abroad this summer for a week without her, and happily leave her for a night or two.