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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- Changes in labour markets, education and the benefits system are some of the factors that have resulted in many young people not earning a sufficient income to support independent living until well into their twenties; consequently, patterns of leaving home, partnership formation and having children have all been modified
- Such changes are affecting young people unequally and there is increased polarisation between the managed 'extended dependency' of those from well resourced families and the more difficult transitions of those from families lacking economic and/or social capital or those leaving care
- Although diverse, young people leaving care tend to come from poorer socio-economic backgrounds; to have had previous poor life experiences and disrupted childhoods; to have experienced trauma and abuse during childhood; and, as a result, to have often experienced a number of care settings
- Compared with other young people, those leaving care are more likely to: have poor educational outcomes and access to further and higher education; experience low paid employment or unemployment; have problems with health, particularly mental health, conduct disorders and misuse of alcohol and drugs; have difficulties with relationships with family and friends; be young parents; and feel affected by stigma and prejudice
- Young people who are making a transition from being looked after to independent living are therefore particularly disadvantaged in terms of many factors which might facilitate this process; however, whilst there is wide-ranging research relevant to this group there are also many gaps, especially in the area of understanding housing needs and issues
- Most young people move on from care at 16 or 17 years; this tends to be an abrupt transition which has been referred to as 'accelerated and compressed', further impacting on other aspects of their lives such as education, relationships and health and well-being. All of these issues, in turn, have implications for the ability to manage independent living
- Research with young people moving on from care shows that they themselves identify the need for preparation for this transition well in advance; they often lack the taken for granted life skills, or 'social inheritance', of those with a more family based upbringing and need support, for instance, with cooking, cleaning, budgeting, health care, accessing services and managing expectations from the adult world
- The level of support that young people experience on leaving care varies. Certain kinds of services, such as supported accommodation, appear to be more effective than accommodation with less access to onsite support; abilities to sustain tenancies are affected by high costs and expenses, too little support, loneliness and a lack of independent living skills. Factors which help to support tenancies include: informal and formal support; choice in accommodation options; practical assistance with rents, bills and furnishing property; and addressing young people's complex needs
- Research with young people leaving care for independent living shows that they are a diverse group whose needs should not be homogenised. However, recurrently expressed needs include: better advance preparation; non-judgemental, individualised and personalised support from a trusted adult; awareness of young people's needs and wishes; practical and emotional support; control over their own decisions and confidentiality
- Mentoring would seem to be one way forward for young people leaving care to support transitions to independent living but the message from recent research and evaluation is that this must be carried out in a realistic fashion, as many of them may find it difficult clearly to articulate ends and goals, there can be many shifts and changes in their lives and circumstances and mentoring relationships can be fragile and easily undermined
- Searches of published and grey literature and contacts with relevant groups and experts found that that there is not an extensive body of research on what contributes to good outcomes for children and young people who have been looked after; in particular there are no longitudinal studies that would help to disaggregate individual outcomes from interventions, though there is a wealth of unrecorded professional 'practice wisdom'
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