Exploring the interplay of factors that support 'successful' transitions through the lived experiences of care leavers

Lifecourse experiences of young people leaving care and care leavers are characterised as being marked by ‘abrupt’ transitions to adulthood when formal ‘care’ is left. These transitions are commonly associated with the... [ view full abstract ]

Lifecourse experiences of young people leaving care and care leavers are characterised as being marked by ‘abrupt’ transitions to adulthood when formal ‘care’ is left. These transitions are commonly associated with the loss of emotional, practical and financial networks of support, and ultimately with poor outcomes. However, crucially, there has been little focus on the diverse ways in which young people in care and care leavers successfully navigate transitions to adulthood despite social and institutional barriers. We present early findings from the English component of a three-country international study (Against All Odds?, led by Elisabeth Backe-Hansen) which seeks to address this lack of knowledge by building a more complex understanding of what factors contribute to positive outcomes for young people leaving the care system. Specifically, qualitative longitudinal research from England, involving creative interviewing methods with young people and adults (aged 16-30 years) with care experience and who were (or had recently been) in education, employment or training, sheds new light on the role and interplay of opportunity, environmental expectations, official and unofficial support, continuity, and individual meaning, for the ‘success’ of transitions from care. Taken together our findings highlight the complexity of intersecting transitions and enrich our understanding of the importance of continuity and control over changes for young people making transitions from care.