"Aging-out" of the out-of-home care system: What young people and carers say helps and hinders this transition.

BACKGROUND

The transition from the formal out-of-home care system at 18 years old can be a time of significant upheaval for young people, with well-documented consequences for their wellbeing. Yet, few studies have captured young people and caregivers' perspectives on what might help or hinder this transition, particularly drawing on views both before and after this change.

OBJECTIVE

To explore young people's and caregivers' views on what helped and hindered over this leaving-care transition.

PARTICIPANTS AND

SETTING

At baseline, participants were 25 17-year-olds, all in formal out-of-home care in England or Wales. For 13 of these participants, their caregiver also participated.

METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted approximately 12 months apart, before and soon after young people turned 18 years old and thus transitioned out of the formal care system. Framework analysis was used to identify risk and protective factors at the systemic, social, and individual levels.

RESULTS

Eight themes were grouped into three overarching areas: 1. Resourced, consistent, and accurate information-sharing and professional support systems; 2. Social networks and relational stability; and 3. Young people's sense of agency and coping. Interactions across systemic, relational, and individual factors were reported to influence young people's wellbeing across the transition.

CONCLUSION

Findings underscore the importance of timely, accurate guidance, early and consistent professional involvement, and policies that prioritise relational continuity into early adulthood. As UK policy increasingly emphasises relationship-based practice, this study provides insights into how out-of-care transitions at 18 can be better supported to promote the wellbeing of these young people.