Care leavers’ views about transition: a literature review

Published date18 March 2019
Pages42-58
Date18 March 2019
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-05-2018-0013
AuthorCathy Atkinson,Rebekah Hyde
Subject MatterHealth & social care,Vulnerable groups,Children's services,Sociology,Sociology of the family,Children/youth,Parents,Education,Early childhood education,Home culture,Social/physical development
Care leaversviews about transition:
a literature review
Cathy Atkinson and Rebekah Hyde
Abstract
Purpose Considerable attention has been given to the vulnerability of young people leaving care in the UK
in their transition to adulthood. To date, however, there has been limited focus on the perceptions of care
leavers about what factors enable and inhibit effective practice. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach This systematic literature review sought to elicit the views of UK care
leavers in identifying barriers and facilitators to the process of transition to adulthood. Qualitativestudies in the
care-leaving field were identified, of which seven met inclusion criteria and were included in the final synthesis.
Findings The findings yielded a range of facilitators, including authentic and consistent relationships with
those acting in the role of corporate parent; and flexible systems, which accommodated personal readiness
for leaving care. Barriers included insufficient recognition of, and a lack of support for, the psychological
dimensions of transition, exacerbated by insufficient support networks.
Research limitations/implications This literature search yielded seven qualitative papers, some with
small sample sizes, meaning that the findings may not be representative of a wider population or directly
relevant to international contexts.
Practical implications Suggestions for enhancing the transition process are posited. In particular, the
potential usefulness of an interdependencetransition approach for UK care leavers is proposed.
Originality/value This study analyses qualitative data, thus constituting a response to policy calls for care
leaver views to be central to transition processes.
Keywords UK, Barriers, Facilitators, Transition to adulthood, Leaving care, Care leavers
Paper type Literature review
Introduction
Previous researc hh as indicated that UK care leave rs, on entering adulthood, ar e at heightened
risk of homelessne ss, custody, sexual exploita tion, becoming not in educati on, employment or
training (NEET) , mental health issu es, social exclusio n and death in early adu lthood
(Greenwood, 2017; Stein, 2005; The Centre for Social Justice, 2015). Furthermore, low
participation rates for care leavers in education and training equate to reduced opportunity
when entering an overburdened youth labour market (Jackson and Cameron, 2012; Stein,
2005). Despite this, a small amount of research indicates that some care leavers go on to
further and higher education, which brings them enhanced employment prospects
(Harrison, 2017). Since the Children (Leaving Care) Act of 2000, there have been positive
shifts in the legislative landscape to extend statutory protection to 25 years, an
acknowledgement that care leavers are often catapulted into instant adulthoodwithout the
necessary skill set and support network (Stein, 2008, p. 41). Nevertheless, evidence suggests
that practice rela ted to transition to a dulthood remain s largely age, rathe r than needs-driv en
(Hiles et al., 2014; Munro et al., 2011). With many care leavers remaining unprepared for
adulthood, poor outcomes for this vulnerable but by no means homogenous group have
persisted (Stein, 2006; The Centre for Social Justice, 2015).
The changing pattern of youth transitions can be seen to further disadvantage care leavers
transition to adulthood. Pathways to adulthood have become increasingly complex since
the 1980s (Furlong et al., 2003). The emergence of a so-called boomerang generation,
Received 27 May 2018
Revised 14 October 2018
9 December 2018
Accepted 4 February 2019
This research was supported by
the Department for Education (DfE)
National College for Teaching and
Learning (NCTL) ITEP award
20152018.
Cathy Atkinson is based at the
Department of Education,
Faculty of Education,
Manchester Metropolitan
University, Manchester, UK.
Rebekah Hyde is Educational
Psychologist at Cornwall
Council, Cornwall, UK.
PAG E 42
j
JOURNAL OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES
j
VOL. 14 NO. 1 2019, pp. 42-58, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1746-6660 DOI 10.1108/JCS-05-2018-0013
a media-coined term capturing a state of fluctuating between dependence and independence, is
characterised by increased youth dependency on family; and slower and more gradual transitions
to adulthood (Goldfarb, 2014). Recent statistics suggested many young people are now living
with their parents into their 20s and 30s (The Office for National Statistics, 2016). By contrast,
care leavers do not have the option of retreating to a familial safety net, having been denied the
secure base that provides an emotional springboard into independence (Stein, 2004). Unlike their
peers, care leavers are often required to navigate simultaneous changes at transition to
adulthood, sometimes having to manage a number of concurrent life events (e.g. leaving care,
managing a tenancy, entering the workplace, etc.). Stein (2008) describes the compressed and
accelerated transitions to adulthood(p. 39) faced by care leavers, who can often be denied
sufficient time and support to navigate and adjust to these multiple transitions.
Barriers and facilitators
Recent policy advisory documents and governmental reports have emphasised potential factors
influencingand affecting effectivetransition practice. In termsof issues, one barrier reportedby care
leavers is the inadequacy of pathway planning (Munro et al., 2011; The Centre for Social Justice,
2015, 2016). A pathway plan is a statutory document that follows the care leaver through
the transition process, documenting their needs across multiple domains (DfE, 2010). Another is
the perceived shortage of suitable independent or semi-independent living arrangements
(The Centre for Social Justice, 2014; DfE, 2017). This concern has also been echoed within
literature, with access and availability varying across local authorities, perhaps due to the level of
interworking between leaving care and housing teams (Dixon et al., 2006; Hiles et al.,2014).
Many care leavers reportthe abrupt loss of a support network and subsequent onset of loneliness
or depression, perhaps due to a lack of support toaddress their emotional needs on leavingcare
(House of Commons Education Committee, 2016; The Centre for Social Justice, 2015). A lack of
input around practical issues such as budgeting advice and cooking is another reported barrier in
the transition to independent living (Harris, 2009; The Centre for Social Justice, 2013).
Conversely, the Right2BeCared4 report (Munro et al., 2011) identified supportive and consistent
relationships with professionals including social workers and involvement in decision-making
processes as facilitative. Care leavers valued the process of preparing their pathway plan, when
reflective of their current circumstances and goals. Flexible and available support, which could be
readily accessed at any stage of the transition process, was valued. A report involving discussion
groups with 88 care leavers highlighted further facilitators (Ofsted, 2012). One-third of
participants reported that issues could have been ameliorated via additional budgeting advice,
easier access to important documents (e.g. passports) and availability of emotional support.
A small number reported that continued contact with foster carers helped their transition to
adulthood, providing an ongoing social network.
Rationale and aims of the current study
A key strand to recent legislative changes has been the call for increased self-advocacy for care
leavers when planning for transition (Stein, 2008). The Care Leavers Regulations (DfE, 2010) as well
as guidance from The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child advocated that care
leavers should have greater choice and control when planning for transition to adulthood.
Recent evidence, however, has suggested that care leavers can be peripheral to preparing for
adulthood processes (Dixon et al., 2006; Munro et al., 2011). Moreover, the lack of qualitative studies
conducted with care leavers in the UK has made it difficult to identify what care leavers perceive to be
barriers or facilitators to the transition process (Parry and Weatherhead, 2014). This current literature
review responds to this participation agenda by focussing on care leaversperspectives about
barriers and facilitators to successful transition to adulthood.
Method
Search strategy
The study wasfocussed on a single country (theUK), as it was envisaged that it wouldbe difficult to
draw conclusions across different countries, given their diverse contexts and care systems.
VOL. 14 NO. 1 2019
j
JOURNAL OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES
j
PAG E 43

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT