Young people leaving care will be asked for their views on their experiences in a survey being sent to local authorities.
Coram Voice, who advocate on behalf of children who are in or leaving care, have linked with the University of Bristol to develop the survey based on a literature review of care leavers’ views on their transition to adulthood.
The Your Life, Your Care survey has already been delivered in several local authorities and its authors say many have already started to implement service developments as a result.
The literature review covers 80 UK studies exploring care leavers’ own accounts of their experiences and feelings on leaving care, relationships, responsibilities and life after care.
It reveals that young people felt too little attention was given to preparing them emotionally for leaving care, and for some, independence had come too soon.
Linda Briheim-Crookall of Coram Voice said: ‘High-quality local authority services to children in care and care leavers must be grounded in an understanding of children and young people’s own experiences and views, not simply adult perspectives on their lives.
‘Our literature review gives us valuable insight into care leavers’ experiences and forms a vital part in the development of our new survey to measure care leavers’ subjective wellbeing.’