'Moving On' from care into adulthood: consultation analysis

Executive Summary

The ‘Moving on’ from care into Adulthood consultation was open from 11 July to 3 October 2024. The consultation sought views across 41 open questions which considered the various experiences of young people leaving care, including planning and preparation, Continuing Care, Aftercare, health and wellbeing support, education, employment and housing. It also considered how different groups of people leaving care may be uniquely affected by changes to the current support and services available. The consultation was open to all members of the public and especially sought the views of young people with care experience, kinship or foster families, the birth families of young people with care experience, and those across the care sector and beyond who support young people with care experience during their transition into adulthood.

In total, 69 responses were received from 22 individuals and 47 organisations, 17 of which had corporate parenting responsibilities. The consultation process also included 14 engagement sessions organised by the Scottish Government and its stakeholders.

Planning and preparation for moving on from care into adulthood

Respondents were asked to provide insight, suggestions and examples of practice which might help the Scottish Government understand how support for young people, and those who care for them as they transition out of care, can be improved. Respondents emphasised the importance of including the young person and the adults who care for them more in the planning around the transition from care and creating a plan that best meets the individual needs of each young person. Respondents also suggested that better guidance and training be provided to staff members involved in assisting young people leaving care. Suggestions included training in trauma-informed approaches, a broader understanding of support and services available and a clearer understanding of statutory responsibilities. Respondents also felt there should be greater collaboration between services, including better information sharing, earlier planning and preparation for transitions, and that support should be person-centred, meeting the unique needs of each individual.

There was a clear consensus from respondents that a lack of resources and workforce capacity at a local level are barriers to implementing the suggestions recommended above. This was seen to impact how effectively staff engage with young people, and create a lack of continuity and stability among the teams assisting them. Other respondents highlighted structural issues, particularly interactions between different systems and processes that could be a barrier to starting the process of planning and preparing young people to leave care at a suitably early stage.

Accessing information, services and support

Respondents were asked about the accessibility and availability of information, support and services for young people, and the adults in their lives, as they move on from care. Respondents felt that access to any support and guidance which help young people build life skills needed to come with consistency of care, whether that was from social workers, carers or other members of social care teams. Respondents felt these trusted adults should spend time with, and listen to, young people; building relationships with them, modelling healthy behaviours and attitudes, responding effectively to requests for assistance and actioning any plans. Others suggested that better access to relevant information, such as signposting to mental health and wellbeing support, housing assistance and community-based provision was needed.

Supporting young people to develop life skills was a common theme. The types of skills included financial management, self-care or relational skills, home economics and household management skills. Respondents thought those would be best delivered through certified modules or school courses, or from carers. Places like the Practice Pad, supported by Inverclyde Council, were highlighted as examples of best practice.

Several respondents highlighted the important role of advocacy as young people leave care. Support for young people from sources such as local authority Champions Boards or the third sector was seen as necessary in ensuring that their rights were respected. Others noted the importance of peer support from those with care experience and mentors in providing information from a trusted source.

Respondents were asked about the types of support young people leaving care may need if they return to live with their birth families. Potential support highlighted by respondents included continued support for the young person at home, emotional and mental wellbeing support, and access to financial and practical support. Respondents provided examples of good practice where services have worked together holistically, including dedicated practitioners or coordinators and wrap-around support. Descriptions of strategies and interventions included help in creating routines, learning life skills, improving relationships and maximising income.

Respondents highlighted using digital channels (particularly social media, websites and ‘apps’), community events, workshops, and written material such as leaflets and books as the best ways to ensure young people with care experience and those who support them can easily access information about entitlements. Using a variety of communication methods was highlighted as the best approach, as it was suggested that some young people may struggle to afford technology to access digital resources. Others mentioned the importance of ensuring staff members who assist young people also provide information.

Continuing Care, Aftercare and Lifelong Support

Several respondents expressed the view that the Continuing Care eligibility criteria should extend to other groups of young people with care experience who had stopped being ‘looked after’ before their 16th birthday. This included specific groups of young people such as those supported through a Section 11 Kinship Care Order or ‘informal’ kinship care, those impacted by a breakdown in their adoption and those in secure care immediately before ceasing to be ‘looked after’. Some respondents called for Continuing Care to be provided to a wider group of young people in general, including those with any experience of care, regardless of whether they were still ‘looked after’ on their 16^th birthday. Conversely, some respondents felt there was no need to change the existing criteria.

Similar suggestions were made about Aftercare, with several respondents suggesting the eligibility criteria should be extended to other groups of young people, particularly those who were no longer ‘looked after’ on their 16^th birthday. However, several respondents felt there was only a need for more flexibility in Aftercare provision, based on a case-by-case assessment of a young person’s needs, and others called for the upper age limit of 26 for receiving Aftercare to be removed. While some public bodies and social work organisations expressed the view that no change was needed, this was because they felt they already applied flexibility in providing discretionary Aftercare. Respondents were also aware that any change to the eligibility criteria was dependent on available funding, workload management and staffing, and whether flexible provision could adequately meet the individual needs of each young person.

A common theme was a need for greater awareness and access to information on young people’s rights and corporate responsibilities. Respondents highlighted gaps in staff knowledge; including a clear understanding of processes, information about the consequences for young people of ending support early and what assistance should be provided by people with corporate parenting duties. Some respondents also mentioned that greater access to funding was needed to support the retention of staff and staff training.

A common theme highlighted was the importance of lifelong support, although the recommended level and types offered differed across respondents. Some suggested that specialist hubs or centres in each local authority could be dedicated to the needs of people with care experience, providing details about resources and guidance, and signposting to different types of statutory assistance available. Others thought that better or earlier assistance during the transition out of care could allow people to start adulthood with a more solid foundation. The importance of multi-agency collaboration was also reiterated. As with the views expressed on Continuing Care and Aftercare, respondents noted that the greatest challenges to providing lifelong care would be budgetary restrictions and resource constraints.

Support for specific groups of people leaving care

Respondents were asked how support and services could best meet the needs of specific groups of young people leaving care. This included young people leaving secure care or Young Offender Institutions, those who had arrived in Scotland as Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children, young people with a disability and young parents.

A common theme was the importance of providing all young people with clear information and signposting as they transition out of care. This included signposting to more general resources, such as ensuring young people transitioning to new communities are aware of how to register with local dentists, GPs and mental health services; including trauma and grief counselling, to specific types of support and assistance, such as providing more comprehensive and specialised antenatal courses to young people leaving care who are pregnant or becoming parents.

Across the different groups, another common theme was the importance of maintaining relationships. In the case of secure care, respondents thought it was important that relationships with key workers, therapists or other trusted adults continued after a young person leaves care. Respondents also noted the importance of continuity of care for young people in Young Offender Institutions, ensuring stability when they leave. Several respondents highlighted the importance of an uncomplicated transition for a young person between Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and adult mental health services.

The importance of reviewing national standards and protocols to ensure all young people get equal access to the support and services they need during their transition, regardless of where in Scotland they live, was another common theme. Respondents also noted the importance of clear care or pathway plans. Several respondents suggested clear guidance from the government would ensure multi-agency collaboration and learning, and information sharing across departments.

Care that is individualised to meet the unique circumstances of young people was another common theme. This included trauma-informed approaches, a gradual transition from care and responding to the needs and wishes of each young person regarding where they would like to live and what type of housing option would suit them best.

Forms of support for moving into adulthood

Respondents were asked to consider the different types of support and services that could be provided to young people as they enter adulthood. A common theme was the benefit of peer support in helping young people as they leave care and in helping their caregivers establish support networks. Different requests were made, such as creating specific hubs and spaces within local communities or formalising peer support through frameworks based on what was seen as successful models, such as Grandmentors inter-generational mentoring project for young people with care experience.

Maintaining relationships between those who have left care and the adults who supported them while they were in care was another common theme. Some felt that continued support should be normalised and allowed in safe and transparent ways with clear limitations, whilst others felt it should be built into the care plan. Respondents noted the importance of dependability and of ensuring any relationship is maintained when a commitment has been made to do so. Respondents suggested implementing policies to enable supportive adults, carers or staff members to maintain relationships, including through access to communication platforms.

Respondents noted the following types of support should be available through access to dedicated helplines or out-of-hours services: life skills assistance, such as with emergency home or car repairs; signposting to public and third sector services, which may be able to provide further help; emotional and mental wellbeing support; crisis support, including access to emergency food assistance or support related to children; and financial support. Some respondents suggested that out-of-hours support should be delivered face-to-face wherever possible, particularly in crisis situations.

Ensuring priority access to physical and mental health services was a common theme. Respondents emphasised that as young people leave care, they often face a change of service provider when they need support. For example, as they transition out of CAMHS services, they may be put on waiting lists for adult community mental health services. Respondents noted this may require better resourcing for services and mentioned that long waiting lists made continued care difficult to access. To ensure a smooth transition between children’s and adult health services, respondents noted the importance of multi-agency working, clear and gradual transition pathways and person-centred care.

Respondents raised the impact of Scotland’s housing crisis on young people leaving care. A lack of good quality, appropriate housing was a common theme throughout responses. Others spoke about the potential high costs associated with private rental markets which made saving or paying for other basic needs, such as transport to work, challenging. Several respondents described a lack of access to housing support, whilst others mentioned the issues that can arise when moving across local authority boundaries. To ensure those leaving care have sufficient support as they move into their first home, respondents thought they would benefit from access to training and practical assistance in developing life skills, including budgeting and registering for utilities. Others noted the importance of social and emotional support to reduce the risk of isolation and to help young people integrate into their new communities.

Another common theme was that young people should be consulted on their views and choices when they are leaving care and that these should be reviewed with them on an ongoing basis. Others felt that young people should have access to advocacy support to ensure they are being listened to and that their preferences and needs are heard.

While respondents generally felt that current funding support for further and higher education students with care experience was very good, improving awareness of the available grants was suggested. Other possible improvements included making the grant application process more accessible for all people with care experience, such as making it easier to provide supporting evidence and providing a consistent funding package across the full period of study. Respondents suggested improved support would allow students in further and higher education to successfully complete their studies, such as flexible learning pathways, access to hybrid or part-time teaching and personalised support. Some respondents highlighted the benefits of guidance from course leaders and tutors, while others suggested that colleges and universities could foster better collaboration with social work teams to ensure the needs of students with care experience are met.

When asked what would help young people find fulfilling work, develop their skills and build confidence in the workplace, a common theme was that more work experience programmes would be beneficial, particularly early on, after leaving school to assist in identifying skills and interests. Career advice and guidance being provided either through school, peer or mentorship schemes, or during care planning meetings, was recommended by several respondents.

Another common theme was the need to reduce stigma through raising awareness of care experience by fellow students or employers. This included increasing understanding of The Promise and providing more trauma-informed training sessions for line managers, human resource managers and other staff working with people with care experience across public and private sectors, and in educational settings.

Conclusions

There was consensus throughout the consultation responses on the approaches and actions required to support young people as they transition out of care into adulthood. Key recurring themes included the importance of multi-agency collaboration, staff upskilling on the supports available, trauma-informed training and taking a person-centred, flexible approach to support. While there was wide support for improvements, respondents noted that without further funding and training, many of the approaches highlighted could be difficult to implement.

Alongside other evidence, the consultation responses and engagement sessions provide valuable insight from those with lived experience and those who support them. This will help ensure that the Scottish Government can work effectively with their partners and stakeholders to make the necessary changes so that all young people in Scotland with experience of care can reach their full potential.