Care leavers' transitions to adulthood in the context of Covid-19: Understanding pathways, experiences and outcomes to improve policy and practice
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bedfordshire
Department Name: Applied Social Research Institute
Abstract
Care leavers typically leave their foster homes or residential placements at 16-18 years and cannot necessarily rely on receiving as much practical, emotional or family support, once they have moved, as their peers in the general population. Research shows that young people leaving care can feel isolated and abandoned at this time and that they are vulnerable to poor outcomes including poverty, homelessness, mental ill-health and unemployment. The health, social and economic impacts of Covid-19 heighten the challenges they are likely to face at a stage of life that can be difficult in the best of circumstances.
The study will involve analysis of quantitative data on around 900 care leavers and in-depth interviews with senior and operational managers from children's services and health on around 50 care leavers and their key workers, (at two time points), to inform understanding of the impact that the Covid-19 has had on the timing of young people's transitions from care, where young people go ('transition pathways'), what services and support they receive, and how they fare. In particular we will focus on understanding the impact that the pandemic has had on the health and wellbeing of care leavers and the strengths and limitations of the mainstream and specialist health services they receive. We will then work together with care leavers and professionals to develop recommendations for policy makers and tools to support best practice.
The study will involve analysis of quantitative data on around 900 care leavers and in-depth interviews with senior and operational managers from children's services and health on around 50 care leavers and their key workers, (at two time points), to inform understanding of the impact that the Covid-19 has had on the timing of young people's transitions from care, where young people go ('transition pathways'), what services and support they receive, and how they fare. In particular we will focus on understanding the impact that the pandemic has had on the health and wellbeing of care leavers and the strengths and limitations of the mainstream and specialist health services they receive. We will then work together with care leavers and professionals to develop recommendations for policy makers and tools to support best practice.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Emily Munro (Principal Investigator) | |
| Fiona Newlands (Researcher) |
Publications
Council Of Europe
(2023)
Transitions on hold?: how the Covid-19 pandemic affected young people's transitions to autonomy
Munro, E.R.
(2021)
Upholding the rights of care leavers during the COVID-19 pandemic
| Description | Care leavers are resilient (but still need support) It is important not to pathologise care leavers and assume they are a homogenous group who are destined for poorer outcomes than their non-care experienced peers. At the same time, it is important to hold in mind the additional challenges that this group may experience and how these might be further heightened during and in the aftermath of the pandemic. Care leavers have a right to tailored and accessible services and support to protect and promote their life chances. • Reduced bureaucracy and prioritisation of strategies to promote positive wellbeing The pressing imperative to adapt models of social work delivery and to maintain support for care leavers during the pandemic opened up opportunities for less rigid compliance with policies and procedures and more personalised, flexible and relational support in response to individual needs and circumstances. • Creative and tailored approaches to keeping in touch Leaving care personal advisers have sought to maintain socially distanced face to face contact, where necessary, and in line with the professional values of social work. They have also been adaptable and creative in the design and delivery of online offers including drop ins, quizzes, cooking sessions, exercise classes, candle making and song writing. Checking in on care leavers more often than usual and in different ways helped to combat loneliness, isolation and boredom. • 'It's not just digital poverty [it's] actual poverty' Professionals drew attention to the nature and extent of poverty in care leavers lives and how this had been exacerbated during the pandemic (e.g. loss of work, increased Interviewees included advanced practitioners, leaving care team managers and service managers with responsibilities for looked after children 16+ and/or care leavers. heating bills, higher food bills due to shortages of some goods and greater reliance on local corner shops). All local authorities who participated in this research increased the material support they were providing during the pandemic, including, for example, providing an extra £20 per week for those ineligible for the Universal Credit uplift and/or by providing food parcels or discretionary payments to cover rent or bills. • Mental health and the widening 'care gap' Concerns regarding the availability of, access to, and engagement with, mental health support during the transition from care to adulthood pre-date Covid-19. The additional pressures facing care leavers during the pandemic have increased demand for mental health services at a time when access is further restricted and alternative models of delivery may inhibit engagement (e.g. reduced access to health professionals that young people know and trust, online delivery when young people are in shared accommodation). Every local authority identified mental health support for care leavers as a pressing issue and some signalled that there had been a rise in complex mental health needs within their areas, including an increase in self-harm, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. • Housing: winners and losers Every local authority expressed concerns about housing and accommodation support, with Covid-19 exposing pre-existing fragility in the system. Findings revealed that experiences were diverse depending upon young people's needs, circumstance and where they were placed at the point of lockdown. For some, delays to placement moves were welcomed, whilst other felt stuck in limbo unable to move on as planned. • Moving beyond age-related transitions Some young people benefitted from the opportunity to remain in their existing care placement during the pandemic, rather than being expected to move on at a particular point in time. Purposive delays were viewed to be really advantageous for some young people as they offered an extended period for preparation and planning for the future as well as relational continuity and support from current carers. • Shortages of suitable accommodation Particular challenges were encountered in finding accommodation for young people who were evicted from placements (for non-compliance with Covid-19 restrictions), or who had complex needs. Four local authorities had not been able to secure suitable accommodation for some of their young people resulting in the use of Bed and Breakfast accommodation and/or out of authority placements. • Acknowledgement of the importance of bridging the 'digital divide' Services were concerned about care leavers who lacked access to devices such as a laptop or phones, WIFI or did had insufficient data allowances. Those with limited or no access were reported to experiences challenges as their education, employment and social life moved to become predominantly digital. Efforts were made to bridge this 'digital divide' and there was an increased recognition of the importance of digital connection (for both care leavers and staff). Some also highlighted that it should not be assumed that all young people have high levels of digital literacy. • Varied experiences of online learning Education can play an important role in improving young people's life chances. Changes of homes and schools mean care leavers have often already experienced disruptions to their learning. While some young people have adapted well to virtual delivery others have struggled to remain motivated and have missed face to face interaction with teachers and their peers. The challenges for unaccompanied asylum young people trying to learn English online were particularly highlighted. Re-engaging care leavers in education and training as restrictions are lifted needs to be a priority to avoid further widening educational disadvantage. • Celebrating practice The COVID-19 pandemic presented many new challenges to local authorities and required their staff to invest significant time and effort in developing creative solutions to support care leavers. Practitioners used relationship-based practice models to prioritise the wellbeing of the care leavers during a period in which they were under intense pressure and when face to face interactions could cause anxiety due to the potential risks to them and young people. Their resilience and commitment to promoting the wellbeing of care leavers should be celebrated. The study utilised quantitative data from 10 local authorities (n=1338) to analyse care leavers' pathways out of care, taking into account their individual characteristics, reasons for entry to care, and in-care histories during COVID-19. The study revealed that the most common initial pathway out of care was the transitional pathway (unregulated semi-independent or supported living arrangements) for 49% of the sample, followed by the direct pathway (18%) which involves making the transition straight from care to living more independently in a council or privately rented property or moving into University accommodation. Fourteen percent of the sample remained with their foster carers, under a Staying Put arrangement post-18 (extended care pathway), and the birth family and complex pathways (9% and 8%) respectively. The findings demonstrate that past decisions about placement significantly impact care leavers' pathways and education and employment outcomes. The study emphasises the importance of supporting young people during their transition from care to adulthood and highlights the poverty and isolation experienced by too many care leavers. The CCTC study contributes to the global debate surrounding effective service responses to meet the diverse needs of young people leaving care. It highlights the mismatch between policy intent and practice reality, with a high proportion of 16-17 year olds living in semi-independent settings and only a small proportion benefiting from extended care placements (Staying Put). The findings also underscore the "inverse care law" (greatest need/least care) and the need for tailored support to meet the heterogeneous needs of young people navigating the transition from care to adulthood. Policymakers, service providers, and practitioners should use the study's findings to anticipate demand for placements and develop tailored support for care leavers. |
| Exploitation Route | Findings have been presented to the Chair of the Independent Review of Children's Social Care to inform child welfare reform and service responses aimed at improving outcomes for care leavers. They have also been widely disseminated to local authority practitioners and managers, carers, policy makers from a number of government departments including DfE, DHSC, DWP and Ofsted. Tools to support best practice have been co-designed with care experienced young people, leaving care personal advisers and managers. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| URL | https://www.beds.ac.uk/goldbergcentre/research/goldberg-current-research/cctc |
| Description | Beyond 'leaving care': Promoting a sense of belonging and connectedness across the life course webinar to inform the Independent Review of Children's Social Care, including presentation of emerging findings from the CCTC study. The event was attended by 595 people (from DFE, DHSC, DWP, MoJ, Ofsted, 90+ local authorities, 100+ charities, 30+ universities) and included reflections from Chair of the Independent Review. Findings have also been used by participating local authorities to strengthen their understanding of their leaving care cohorts (similarities and differences in needs, experiences and transition pathways) and to inform service developments. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | Ofsted - new ILACS judgement on the experiences and progress of care leavers |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/introducing-a-separate-judgement-about-care-leavers-with... |
| Description | Webinar to inform the Independent Review of Children's Social Care |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://beds-ac-uk.zoom.us/rec/play/KZU1kGkZ4-cw6HLXQePhgNibxZuApHMvhIQjP_6noukgqr26heQgx1vk2FDHYmuk... |
| Description | Research England |
| Amount | £13,598 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2023 |
| End | 05/2023 |
| Description | Awareness raising: National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Distribution of information about the research study to approx. 1500 leaving care professionals from 119 local authorities in England via the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | British Association for Community Child Health (BACCH)/The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Professor Emily Munro delivered a keynote presentation at the The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health conference (21/9/22), focused on the health and wellbeing of care leavers during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on findings from the CCTC study. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | CEO roundtable: Department for Families, Fairness and Housing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Professor Emily Munro contributed to a CEO roundtable attended by child welfare providers and senior representatives from the Department for Families, Fairness and Housing in Australia. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Care Leavers' health and wellbeing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Professor Emily Munro delivered an expert webinar focused on care leavers' health and wellbeing as part of the Tri-Peaks Partnership Innovation Webinar, Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, Australia. This was attended by over 200 professional practitioners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.cfecfw.asn.au/tripeaks/tri-peaks-webinars/?playlist=ba83bb6&video=651c3b8 |
| Description | Care Leavers, COVID-19 & the Transition from Care conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We delivered a one day conference to showcase the findings from the Care Leavers, COVID-19 and the transition from Care (CCTC) research project amongst researchers, policy makers, practitioners and care leavers. There were a number of keynote presentations and interactive workshops throughout the conference, with reflections from Professor Emily Munro and the wider research team, young adults with care experience, and leaving care services. The event was attended by over 100 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Care leavers' transitions to adulthood: research informed reflections |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Professor Emily Munro delivered a webinar to professional practitioners based in Australia, sharing learning and implications for practice based on the CCTC study. This was attended by Home Based Care inc. Foster care, Kinship Care, Permanent Care & Adoption - case managers, team leaders and program managers; Residential Care - youth workers, house co-ordinators, team leaders and program managers; Compass - case managers, team leader and program Manager; Home Stretch - National co-ordinator. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | ESRC all-staff seminar: 'Care Leavers, COVID-19 and transitions" reflections on working in co-production with young people and professionals' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | The aim of this activity was to share learning and outcomes from the adoption of a Networked Learning Community approach in the CCTC study. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Extended Care in England: UK-Ireland INTRAC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Seana Friel delivered a presentation to the UK-Ireland INTRAC network focused on learning from the CCTC study on extended care in England (research, policy and practice implications), which was attended by researchers in each of the four UK nations and Ireland. This sparked future/action focused discussions about priorities for future research projects on the implementation of extended care. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://globalintrac.com/uk-ireland-intrac-research-network/ |
| Description | Interview for regional news (BBC3C Radio) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The CCTC research team (represented by Emily Munro) were invited to interview with BBC Three Counties radio upon publication of the CCTC study findings in 2022. A care experienced young person, who was a participant in the study via the Networked Learning Community, took part in the interview to share their experiences of leaving care during COVID-19. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Networked learning community events |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The CCTC Networked Learning Community is a group of people who are motivated to improve services for young people leaving care. The core aim of the community is to work together with the research team to: interpret research findings develop recommendations develop tools for practice The NLC includes care experienced young adults, leaving care social workers/personal advisors and managers from six local authorities from across the country who have attended 3 virtual and one face to face event. Value added: supports and facilitates engagement; real time dissemination of emerging findings; insight into similarities and differences/strengths and limitations of existing practice in local authorities from multiple perspectives; improved understanding of applicability of findings in different organisational contexts; supports development of tools that are relevant and accessible to maximise impact. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Pathways out of Care in England: National Care Leaving Benchmarking Forum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Professor Emily Munro and Dr Claire Baker delivered a presentation followed by an interactive workshop focused on pathways out of care for young people based on the CCTC study findings and pathways out of care resource: https://www.beds.ac.uk/media/10hi2wam/cctc-transitions-pathways.pdf The NLCBF is made up of 125 local authority leaving care teams, who work together to share good practice & improve services & support for care experienced young people. The aim of this session was to facilitate thinking about discussion amongst leaving care practitioners about appropriate and high quality support for care leavers who follow different pathways out of care. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://members.leavingcare.org/landing/ |
| Description | Presentation at seminar on creative and participatory methods for engaging care leavers in research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on the benefits and challenges of participatory research: reflections from care experienced researchers engaged in the CCTC. Audience included care experienced researchers and wider members of the UK-Ireland regional arm of the International Research Network on Transitions to Adulthood from Care. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Press release |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Press release to raise awareness of the research. Requests from media (radio and TV) for interviews when findings available. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2020/december/university-to-investigate-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-young-... |
| Description | Public Policy Exchange: Improving Support for Care Leavers: Ensuring a Smooth Transition from Care to Independence |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Public Policy Exchange holds regular interactive seminars which provide an interface for policy discussion, debate and networking. Research team members involved in the CCTC study were invited to deliver a seminar focused on pathways out of care (derived from the CCTC study). The event was attended by approximately 35 participants which stimulated interest in our research findings and discussions around the concept of extended care in England. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/event.php?eventUID=MD28-PPE |
| Description | Seminar: Care leavers, COVID-19 and the transition from care |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Seminar to dissemination emerging findings from the research. The online event was attended by leaving care practitioners and managers, key organisations working with young people who are care experienced (e.g. Barnardos, Catch 22, Life Changes Trust, as well as academics and researchers in transitions from care. The Q&A panel included the co-Chair of the APPG for looked after children and care leavers, the national implementation advisor for care leavers and a care experienced social worker. 'This was a great piece of training for me as an Independent Reviewing Officer and really enabled me to reflect on my practice and understand the impact of COVID-19 more fully.' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Strategic Advisory Board Meetings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | First strategic advisory group bringing together academics, the policy community, third sector, as well as user experts to provide oversight and advice on the study. Activity to encourage members to share information about the research in their spheres of influence and to disseminate findings (in due course) to maximise impact. Second strategic advisory group including members above, plus care experienced young adults. Dissemination of findings from Research Briefing 1 and agreement from members to disseminate findings via their networks (including, for example, care leavers' ministerial board and the National Network of Designated Health Professionals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect - Sinking, swimming or treading water? Negotiating the transition from care to adulthood in the midst of a pandemic |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | ISPCAN is a key international conference focused on the prevention of child abuse and neglect. This was an important opportunity to share learning about the impact of COVID-19 on leaving care services from an English perspective - paying particular attention to the future delivery of leaving care services. Objectives This paper will explore central government and local authority responses to supporting young people negotiating the transition from care to adulthood in England during the COVID-19 pandemic. In England, central government called upon local authorities to ensure that young people were not expected to leave care or Staying Put arrangements (remaining with former foster carers between 18 and 21 years) during lockdown. They also recommended that local authorities put additional supports in place, including provision of discretionary payments to cover food, utilities and rent where needed. Drawing on qualitative data from an Economic and Social Research Council funded study, (as part of UK Research and Innovation's rapid response to COVID-19), the paper will explore similarities and differences in young people's and professionals' perspectives on experiences and outcomes. In doing so, the paper will illuminate strengths and limitations of adaptations to service responses to try and scaffold and support young people with diverse needs. Methods The Care leavers, COVID-19 and Transitions from Care study is a mixed method study undertaken in 2021-2022. This paper will focus upon analysis and presentation of data from 26 telephone interviews with leaving care managers from 16 local authorities as well as in-depth face to face or virtual interviews with 50 young people and their leaving care managers from six local authorities. Participating local authorities varied by type, geographical location, and different models of health and social care delivery to support young people making the transitions from care to adulthood. Interviews were analysed following principles from framework analysis (Ritchie and Spencer, 1994). Findings Findings suggest that the pandemic has served as a catalyst for some positive adjustments to approaches to service delivery and the levels and types of support available to care leavers. There was some indication that during COVID-19 services for care leavers had moved away from bureaucratic and 'task-focused' practices and towards more frequent, personalised, flexible and relational support. However, findings also signal that the pandemic may still perpetuate the inverse care law (greatest need, least support) (Hart, 1971). In the context of COVID-19 some young people in stable long-term placements benefitted from additional time living with their current carers rather than being 'forced' or kicked out' of the system by virtue of their age. Extended placements and more gradual transitions are acknowledged to be beneficial to improve outcomes (helping young people to 'swim'). In contrast, data suggests that precarity in the lives of young people with the most complex needs has increased, heightening the risk of them 'sinking'. For example, the pandemic has exacerbated mental ill-health at a time when access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services is restricted and alternative models of delivery may inhibit engagement (e.g. reduced access to health professionals that young people know and trust, online delivery when young people are in shared accommodation), thus exacerbating the 'care gap'. Key takeaway points for the audience COVID-19 presented many new challenges to local authorities and required staff to invest significant time and effort in developing creative solutions to support care leavers. Practitioners used relationship-based practice models to prioritise the wellbeing of the care leavers during a period in which they were under intense pressure. COVID-19 has served to exacerbate some pre-existing gaps in service provision for care leavers, particularly mental health and housing provision. The additional pressures facing care leavers during the pandemic have increased demand for mental health services at a time when access was further restricted. Similarly, COVID-19 exposed pre-existing fragility in the housing system (in England). COVID-19 has signalled a move away from 'age-related transitions'. Some young people benefitted from the opportunity to remain in their existing care placement during the pandemic, rather than being expected to move on at a particular point in time. Purposive delays were viewed to be advantageous for some young people as they offered an extended period for preparation and planning for the future as well as relational continuity and support from current carers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://estonia2022.exordo.com/programme/presentation/286 |
| Description | The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect - Transition pathways for young people leaving care in the context of COVID-19 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was an opportunity to share learning from the CCTC study with an international audience, paying particular attention to: the importance and value of collation and analysis of existing Management Information System data to understand how young people's characteristics and care histories shape their experience on leaving care and outcomes into early adulthood. Need to take greater account of similarities and differences in the needs and experiences of care leavers to inform policy and practice and tailor interventions. The pressing imperative to adapt models of social work delivery and to maintain support for care leavers during the pandemic opened up opportunities for less rigid compliance with policies and procedures and more personalised, flexible and relational support in response to individual needs and circumstances. Wide variation in availability and accessibility of appropriate services and supports leading to territorial injustices and heightening the vulnerability of those with the most complex needs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://estonia2022.exordo.com/programme/presentation/130 |
| Description | The use of participatory research methods in research about leaving care: INTRAC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Seana Friel and Emily Munro convened and co-hosted an online workshop for researchers focused on leaving care with an interest and/or experience in implementing participatory research methods. The session was designed to portray a number of participatory research approaches included the Networked Learning Community approach which was adopted during the CCTC study. As part of the CCTC study, the team established a Networked Learning Community (NLC). The core aim of the Networked Learning Community was to support the research team to interpret the research findings, develop recommendations and tools for practice from the study. The NLC was made up of 20 participants from six of the local authorities that participated in the wider research and included: • Care experienced young adults • Social Workers and Personal Advisers • Operational managers |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | UK experience in housing support for care leavers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Emily Munro delivered a presentation focused on the UK experience in housing support for care leavers to the Department for Families, Fairness and Housing; child welfare providers and the Youth Expert Advisory Group in Australia. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Website to raise awareness of the aims and objectives of the research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.beds.ac.uk/goldbergcentre/research/goldberg-current-research/cctc/ |