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‘It was daunting. I was 18 and I left residential care and there was no support whatsoever’: a scoping study into the transition from out-of-home-care process in Tasmania, Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 October 2020

Renée O’Donnell Open the ORCID record for Renée O’Donnell [Opens in a new window] ,
Ann MacRae Open the ORCID record for Ann MacRae [Opens in a new window] ,
Melissa Savaglio Open the ORCID record for Melissa Savaglio [Opens in a new window] ,
Dave Vicary ,
Rachael Green (nee Cox) ,
Philip Mendes Open the ORCID record for Philip Mendes [Opens in a new window] ,
Gary Kerridge ,
Graeme Currie ,
Susan Diamond  and
Helen Skouteris
Renée O’Donnell
Affiliation:
Monash Centre of Health Research and Implementation, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Ann MacRae
Affiliation:
Baptcare, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Melissa Savaglio
Affiliation:
Monash Centre of Health Research and Implementation, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Dave Vicary
Affiliation:
Baptcare, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Rachael Green (nee Cox)
Affiliation:
Monash Centre of Health Research and Implementation, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Philip Mendes
Affiliation:
Monash Centre of Health Research and Implementation, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Gary Kerridge
Affiliation:
Warwick Business School, Warwick University, Coventry, England, UK
Graeme Currie
Affiliation:
Warwick Business School, Warwick University, Coventry, England, UK
Susan Diamond
Affiliation:
Department of Communities Tasmania, Children, Youth and Families, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Helen Skouteris*
Affiliation:
Monash Centre of Health Research and Implementation, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Warwick Business School, Warwick University, Coventry, England, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Helen Skouteris, Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Young people who leave Out-of-Home Care (OoHC) are a significantly vulnerable cohort. No after-care support program to date has been completely informed by young people and their care team. This scoping study explored the perspectives of young people and their wider care team on: (1) challenges surrounding the transition process; and (2) how these challenges can be addressed. Semi-structured interviews and focus group sessions were conducted with 33 stakeholders from OoHC (i.e., young people in care; young people who had transitioned from care; carers; caseworkers and senior OoHC executives). Four themes captured the challenges of transitioning out of care, including: (1) inadequate processes underpinning the transition; (2) instability within the family unit; (3) financial challenges and (4) lack of independence during care. Stakeholders agreed that greater support during the transition process is necessary, including life-skills training while in care and a post-care worker and/or mentor to provide after-care support. These findings provide compelling insights into the challenges that young people transitioning from OoHC experience and possible solutions for how such challenges can be addressed. These findings will inform the development and delivery of a co-designed and specialised after-care support service for this population.

Keywords

Young peopleout-of-home caretransitioninterventionscoping study
Type
Articles
Information
Children Australia , Volume 45 , Special Issue 4: Special Issue: Poverty and Child Abuse , December 2020 , pp. 296 - 304
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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