Looking forward to leaving: What helps young people to prepare for their transition from residential care to independent life?

Objectives This session reports on research which formed part of an innovative intervention designed to enable improvements in young people’s experiences when preparing to leave residential care. Reporting at two points in... [ view full abstract ]

Objectives
This session reports on research which formed part of an innovative intervention designed to enable improvements in young people’s experiences when preparing to leave residential care. Reporting at two points in time during the two-year intervention, interim findings facilitated main messages being taken forward into developing year two of the program. The work was funded by the Department for Education, and took place in 15 children’s homes/semi-independent provisions in the north west of England.

Method
Utilizing predominantly qualitative methods, the research encompassed a full range of perspectives from those involved in the intervention, including: young people; staff working in participating children’s homes/sites; staff involved in training sessions; service managers and project liaison staff; and staff involved in delivering the intervention. In line with the program ethos of co-production, a participative approach was used to shape data collection tools.

Results
Findings indicated positive developments in: planning and preparation; engagement by staff and young people; professional practice; and individual lives. The emotional effect on staff of preparing young people to leave residential care was seen to be a powerful barrier to progress, which needed to be addressed and supported.

Planning was strengthened by being: joined-up and involving a full range of relevant personnel; accessible to young people; focused on individuals; and up-to-date and relevant, rather than generic. Training which engaged a ‘vertical slice’ of staff enabled the development of ‘Leaving Care Aware’ organizations, where barriers plus enablers were worked on jointly. Including the voices of young people in training sessions served to enable the consequences of practice to be more keenly recognized.

Conclusions
The project contributes towards a better understanding of young people’s experiences of leaving residential care and gives recommendations for both improving planning and preparation for independence, and enhancing the life chances of young people.