Care leavers' transitions to adulthood in the context of Covid-19: Understanding pathways, experiences and outcomes to improve policy and practice

Care leavers are at risk of social exclusion and vulnerable to poor outcomes including poverty, homelessness, mental ill-health, low educational attainment and unemployment. They typically negotiate the transition from care to adulthood at a younger age than their peers in the general population. Moreover, they often have to negotiate multiple transitions simultaneously and do so without the 'safety net' of the levels of practical, emotional and financial support that birth families typically offer to their kin. At 16-18 years of age young people leaving care tend to follow one of five transition pathways: Direct pathway: transition from care to independent living in a council flat or privately rented property; Transitional placement pathway: transition to semi-independent living arrangements; Return to birth family pathway: transition from care to return to live with birth family; Formal extended care pathway: Staying put or Staying Close arrangements; Complex: pathways typified by a quick succession of placement moves (adapted from Munro et al., 2012). Management information system data on approximately 900 care leavers in transition will be analysed to explore their pathways and outcomes in the context of Covid-19. In-depth interviews will be undertaken with leaving care managers and workers and with 50 care leavers (at two time points) to examine young people's progress and strengths and limitations in services and support during (and in the aftermath of) the pandemic. The team will work in co-production with care leavers and professionals to develop tools to support best practice to meet the needs of different 'sub-groups' within the leaving care cohort, including those at high risk of poor outcomes.