Outcomes and longer-term impacts: Does maintenance of sibling relationships whilst a child is experiencing care influence transitions out of care, including housing stability, mental health, and social support in early adulthood?
Background
The Promise recognises transitions from care into adulthood as a critical period, where young people can face abrupt changes in support, increased expectations of independence, and heightened risks around housing, finances, health, and wellbeing. It recognises that young people leaving care should not experience a ‘cliff edge’ of support, instead allowing for gradual, flexible transitions that reflect individual readiness, similar to the support available to many of their peers. Secure, trusting relationships and continuity of support are identified as central to positive transitions.
The ideal evidence base would help illuminate how different models of aftercare and continuing care operate in practice, and how they affect outcomes over time. This includes: evidence on the timing, intensity, and duration of support; the role of relationships with carers and professionals; and how support intersects with education, employment, housing, and health systems. Analytical insight is also needed into differential experiences and outcomes across groups.
Next steps
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Topics
Research fields
Related UKRI funded projects
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The shaping of mental health and the mechanisms leading to (un)successful transitions for care-experienced young people
One in 30 UK children are taken into care before their 18th birthday and placed with foster carers, in residential care, or are adopted. Children who are removed from their families are a very vulnerable group. Many have...
Funded by: SPF
Lead research organisation: University of Sussex
Why might this be relevant?
This project directly addresses the question by studying the mental health and transitions of care-experienced young people, including the impact of relationships and support.
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Care leavers' transitions to adulthood in the context of Covid-19: Understanding pathways, experiences and outcomes to improve policy and practice
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 th...
Funded by: COVID
Lead research organisation: University of Bedfordshire
Why might this be relevant?
While this project focuses on care leavers and the impact of Covid-19 on their transitions, it does not specifically address the influence of sibling relationships on outcomes as requested.
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Caring Lives: What do young people with caring responsibilities for family members need to thrive?
My PhD studied why the impacts of caring vary for different children and young people depending on their individual lives. Young carers research has focused on those who access young carer projects due to having substant...
Funded by: ESRC
Lead research organisation: CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Why might this be relevant?
Although this project focuses on young carers, it does not directly address the influence of sibling relationships on transitions out of care as requested.