Contents

a)      Research

b)      Literature search (Web of Science)

c)       Projects

d)      Useful web links

e)      Books

f)        Conference(s)

 

 

a)      Research

Government Reports

The Home Office (2003) have published Findings 190, which looked at drug use among care leavers in transition to independent living.[1]

Key findings

·         The group reported higher levels of drug use than the general population – one-third reported smoking cannabis every day

·         The use of other drugs was also reported – 15% had used ecstasy in the last month, 10% cocaine. Approximately a tenth reported taking heroin or crack cocaine at some time in their lives.

·         Steadily lower levels of drug consumption were reported as the young people began to live independently. However, levels increased during periods of transition to independent living and when movement to independent living was problematic.

·         Practical responsibilities and parenthood encouraged more responsible levels of drug use and young care leavers appear to grow out of drug use more quickly than the general population.

·         There is a lack of specialist services for young people with drug problems. Interventions should be part of more general planning to help young care leavers with housing, employment and training.

 

Putting Young People at the Centre is a summary report of the Leaving Care Regional Seminars held in 2003, which focused on multi-agency working and young people’s involvement in leaving-care services. Available from http://www.dfes.gov.uk/qualityprotects/work_pro/pdfs/EN0391A7%20Leaving%20Care%2060pp.pdf

 

Department of Health (2000) Helping care leavers: problems and strategic responses. London: Department of Health. This is a more general report but may be of interest.

 

Home Office (2002) Tackling drug use in rented housing: a good practice guide includes a chapter on care leavers. The report identifies that care leavers may be especially vulnerable and need support. They are particularly at risk of homelessness or drug use, or failure to cope in unsupported tenancies. They are especially vulnerable because of their age; the technical difficulties of accessing housing, benefits, education and work; and disturbances in their lives, indicated by their admission to care or their homeless situation, which are still likely to need resolving. The guideline states that preparation for independent living before leaving care can provide some of the necessary technical skills to sustain independent living. This can be augmented by ongoing support that addresses the issues, such as dealing with housing and finance, as well as the emotional elements, offering support, motivation and encouragement. Young people are also less likely to identify for themselves that their drug use is a cause of their problems and to recognise when it is out of control. Even though they may not ask for help, their risk of vulnerability to drug use should be routinely assessed, and support offered by social services staff. Support to this vulnerable group may require a partnership approach involving housing providers; social services; youth workers; and other advice and support services, such as specialist drug services, as appropriate.

 

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (2000) Audit and assessment of leaving care services in London. London: ODPM. This report sought to audit the range of services for care leavers in London, particularly with regard to accommodation.

 

Local government reports

The housing needs of people with drug, substance misuse and alcohol problems in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough: Report of a research project carried out by Shelia Spencer, Richard Corkhill, and Peter Fletcher Associates. Available at:  http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/FAA965B3-2FB2-482D-84B0-BAC5C499CC33/0/SubstanceAbuseandHousing.pdf. This report includes information on the needs of care leavers.

 

Other

Edmonds K et al. (2005) Drug Prevention among vulnerable young people. National Collaborating Centre for Drug Prevention. (available from: http://www.cph.org.uk/cph_pubs/reports/SM/NCCDP%20vulnerable.pdf) focuses on recent government sponsored research on drug prevention among vulnerable groups of young people including looked after children.

 

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (www.jrf.org.uk) is a good source of research publications. These might be of interest:

Single people’s access to social housing. (1997) House Research 215[2]. This study of local authority and housing association policies and practices identified that:

·         Many council waiting-list priority schemes did not reflect the range of housing needs commonly experienced by single people and, in particular, took no account of insecure accommodation.

·         In England and Wales, nearly two-thirds of local authorities excluded young people aged 16 and 17 years from eligibility for tenancies

·         Less than a quarter of local authorities always or usually awarded priority to homeless single people who: had drug or alcohol problems; were aged 16-17 or 18-24; or had been in care but applied some time after leaving care.

·         More than half of local authorities said they sometimes offered single people tenancies on condition that support was available: usually those who were care leavers, leaving institutions or had mental health problems.

·         Some groups of single people received very low priority from all agencies, particularly those who were: roofless; leaving the armed forces; leaving prison; refugees or asylum seekers; or experiencing drug or alcohol problems.

Living in bed and breakfasts in the 1990s. (1997) Housing Research 221[3]. This study found that people with drug, alcohol or mental health problems, ex-prisoners, care leavers, young people and refugees were over-represented in the B&B population.

 

Into the mainstream: care leavers entering work, education and training (2003) by Maggie Allen. Although not about housing issues this report might be useful.

 

b)      Literature search in Web of Science (care leaver* OR leaving care)

Mendes P, Moslehuddin B. (2004) Graduating from the child welfare system: a comparison of the UK and Australian leaving care debates. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WELFARE 13(4):332-339

Abstract: Historically, insufficient resources and assistance have been provided to young people leaving state care. Care leavers have been found to experience significant health, social and educational deficits including homelessness, disproportionate involvement in juvenile crime and prostitution, poor social supports and early parenthood. This paper compares the UK and Australian debates around improving outcomes for care leavers. Whilst there are some minor differences in the respective legislative frameworks and responses, the similarities are far greater. Both countries have failed to provide the range of in-care, transitional and post-care supports and services required to ensure improved outcomes for care leavers.

 

Reeves J. (2004) Into the mainstream. Care leavers entering work, education and training. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK 34(4):607-608

 

Long A. (1999) What works in leaving care? JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE 13(1):105-106

 

Horrocks C. (1998) Young people leaving care: Life after the Children Act 1989. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK 28(5):809-811

 

Biehal N, Wade J. (1996) Looking back, looking forward: Care leavers, families and change. CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES REVIEW 18(4-5):425-445

Abstract: This paper draws on the findings of a four year study of leaving care services in England carried out at the University of Leeds and funded by the Department of Health. It examines patterns of family contact for care leavers and the quality of their relationships with their families. It considers the continuing informal support that both biological and substitute families can offer to care leavers. The new families that many care leavers create through early parenthood and the continuing support needs of these young parents are also discussed. The discussion situates the needs and experiences of care leavers in a wider youth transitions framework and argues for continuing professional attention to improving family links as one strategy for assisting care leavers to negotiate the major youth transitions.

 

Pinkerton J, Stein M. (1995) Responding to the needs of young-people leaving state care - law, practice and policy in England and Northern Ireland. CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES REVIEW 17(5-6):697-709

Abstract: In the United Kingdom each year around sixteen thousand young people between the ages of sixteen and eighteen leave state care. In leaving care these young people face the challenge of how to make the transition from the role of young person in care to that of adult out of care. This is a difficult transition, not just for young people leaving care, but increasingly for all young people. The challenge posed to state child welfare services when young people leave care is to equip them adequately to cope with the pressures around this difficult transition, This paper reviews existing research to explore what this challenge looks like in practice in England and Northern Ireland and considers whether recent legislative reform in the two jurisdictions will help develop policy and practice in this important area of child care.

 

c)       Projects

Foyer Projects (http://www.foyer.net/mpn/) are a service available to disadvantaged young people across the country. The StrongMinded project might be relevant.

 

Evaluation of Care Leavers Mentoring Project (2003 – 2005). Funded by Fostering Network in Scotland , Andrew Kendrick, Lynne Hunter and Mel Cadman, University of Strathclyde.

Over recent years there has been an increase in the number of mentoring initiatives which link adolescents to volunteer mentors. The Scottish Care Leavers Mentoring Project has established six projects in partnership with local authority departments and local agencies. This research looks at the development of the projects and studies two of the projects in more detail: recruitment of young people and mentors; matching and support of mentoring relationships; and outcomes. Contact details for the researchers are andrew.kendrick@strath.ac.uk, lynne.hunter100@strath.ac.uk and m.cadman@strath.ac.uk

 

Family Solutions - Looked After Children Drugs Initiative is a project based in Hounslow funded by NCH (so you might already know about it!). The contact is Jon Cook (Project Manager), 4-6 School Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW3 1TZ , Tel:(020) 8583 3563, email:lnhdi@post.nch.org.uk. This links to a description of the study http://www.childrensnsfcasestudies.dh.gov.uk/children/nsfcasestudies.nsf/0/705a859d75a667e580256f6a003f23f7?OpenDocument 

 

The School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol has been awarded a research project to carry out an evaluation of the housing and support schemes funded by the Approved Development Programme (ADP) Pilot for Teenage Mothers and the Safer Communities Supported Housing Fund (SCSHF) funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM). The ADP pilot programmes covers a range of housing projects, funded through the Housing Corporation, which provide supported housing for teenage mothers. The SCSHF funds housing and support for four key groups: vulnerable young people (including teenage parents and care leavers); drug and alcohol misusers; offenders and those at risk of offending; and survivors of domestic violence. The evaluation will assess the effectiveness of provision funded under the two schemes in meeting the needs of service users and will assess how successful they are in achieving independence when they move on. The findings will inform a good practice guide on providing accommodation and support to these groups of service users, including specific advice on the use of floating support. The lead applicant is Alex Marsh (Alex.Marsh@bristol.ac.uk)

 

d)      Useful web links

Rainer Online (http://www.raineronline.org/) links to the National Leaving Care Advisory Service

 

The Homeless pages website (http://www.homelesspages.org.uk/) have a link to A Guide to

Publications about Homelessness, Young People and Care Leavers available at http://www.homelesspages.org.uk/dlds/hprguide.pdf

 

The Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care has a link to their library where you can search for relevant publications. Available at http://www.sircc.strath.ac.uk/library/catalogue.html

 

Bob Broad at the Children and Families Research Unit at De Montford University has undertaken research around the health and well being of care leavers. Downloadable papers can be accessed here: http://www.dmu.ac.uk/faculties/hls/research/cfru/downloadable.jsp

 

e)      Books

Broad, B (2005) Improving the health and well-being of young people leaving care. Dorset, Russell House Publishing 

 

Biehal, N and Wade, J I 'Thought it would be easier": the early housing careers of young people leaving care', in Rugg, J ed. (1999) Young People Housing and Social Policy. Routledge

 

f)        Conference(s)

Move than a roof over their heads: housing and young people. The 12^th Annual Housing, Care and Support Journal Conference. Monday 12^th and Tuesday 13^th December 2005, ORT Conference House, London.

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[1] This summary is taken from a more detailed report One problem among many: drug use among care leavers in transition to independent living by Jenni Ward, Zoe Henderson and Geoffrey Pearson (2003). Home Office Research Study No. 260. London: Home Office (available from http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors260.pdf).

[2] The full report by Isobel Anderson and James Morgan (1997) Social Housing for Single People? A study of local policy and practice, is available, priced £10.00 from Sarah Pugh at the Housing Policy and Practice Unit, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA (01786 467719). For further information, please contact: Isobel Anderson at the same address (isobel.anderson@stir.ac.uk) or James Morgan, School of Planning and Housing, Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot Watt University, 79 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2II (0131 221 6162, j.morgan@eca.ac.uk).

[3] The full report, The Last Resort: living in bed and breakfast in the 1990s, by Mary Carter, is published by Shelter. It is available from Shelter Publications, 88 Old Street, London EC1V 9HU, Tel. 0171 505 2000. (ISBN 1 870767 56 X, price £8.50 plus 75p postage and packing).