Skip to search boxSkip to navigationSkip to main content

United Kingdom

Research Output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding Chapter Peer-review

Abstract

Improving outcomes for care leavers has been high on the policy agenda across the United Kingdom. This chapter provides a synopsis of these developments, which are oriented toward facilitating more extended and gradual transitions into adulthood and include statutory duties to assess youth’s support needs, allocate a personal adviser (aftercare worker) to provide or coordinate support, offer extended foster care post-18 (and extended residential placements in Scotland), and offer access to aftercare support up to 25 (or 26 years in Scotland). Drawing on a rich body of research in each nation, including participatory and coproduced studies with care experienced youth, findings illuminate significant gaps in implementation of reforms and the persistence of inequalities in outcomes within the care experienced community, and compared to the general population. Barriers to implementation include budget constraints, a shortage of suitable accommodation, high thresholds for access to services;, and limited investment to support implementation of reforms and to facilitate a cultural shift away from practice focused on preparing youth to be “independent” and toward broader support for interdependence in early adulthood. The situation in the United Kingdom highlights that legislation and policy guidance are not sufficient in themselves. At the micro level greater emphasis needs to be placed on emotional support and at the mezzo level to resolving barriers to integrated working to respond to intersectional disadvantages. Great attention also needs to be paid to understanding and supporting the process of implementing reforms to avoid further widening of the “care gap” that has been exacerbated by COVID-19.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding Chapter Peer-review

Host publication Subtitle

Policy, Practice, Research, and Youth Participation

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 369-383 (15 pages)

Publication milestones

  • E-pub ahead of print - 26/11/2025
  • Published - 26/11/2025

Publication status

Published - 26/11/2025

Publisher

Oxford University Press, India, United States, United Kingdom

ISBN (Print)

9780197758816

ISBN (Electronic)

9780197758847

Chapter Number

31

External Publication IDs

  • Scopus: 105038339240

Host publication title

Leaving Care around the World

Host publication editors

  • Tehila Refaeli
  • Varda Mann-Feder

Access to documents