Peer Research – Working Together to Achieve Positive Transitions from care.

TY - CONF

T1 - Peer Research – Working Together to Achieve Positive Transitions from care.

AU - Ward, Jade

AU - Mook, Amy

AU - Dixon, Jo

PY - 2021/9/1

Y1 - 2021/9/1

N2 - Research evidence over the past three decades suggests that many young people leaving care face higher risk of disadvantage and social-exclusion throughout adult life. Disruption through placement movement, a lack of support networks, obstacles to education and career opportunities and isolation post-care can result in care leavers struggling to cope when transitioning to independent adulthood.Research also shows that young people can feel disempowered during the transition from care. Some feel they do not have choice in when they leave or have sufficient say in where they move to. Initiatives introduced in England in recent years aim to increase choices and decision making for young people, both in terms of having more say about their own lives and the development of services that support them. These include pathway planning, children in care councils and care leaver forums, all of which provide platforms for young people to have their voices heard.Alongside this, research with care leavers, including that carried out by researchers from the University of York, has served to provide a platform for young people to share their views about their experiences and what support they need. Increasingly, research is making use of techniques that not only enable young people to voice their perspectives but also to influence the focus of the research and the interpretation and dissemination of findings. This includes the use of participatory approaches, such as peer research and co-production, where young people take a more active role in the research process.This presentation will provide an overview of how our research is using peer research methodology, working with young people making their transition to independent living, across two innovation projects. Both projects were developed with a co-production element, ensuring young people have a voice in not only their transition but also in the support they receive.

AB - Research evidence over the past three decades suggests that many young people leaving care face higher risk of disadvantage and social-exclusion throughout adult life. Disruption through placement movement, a lack of support networks, obstacles to education and career opportunities and isolation post-care can result in care leavers struggling to cope when transitioning to independent adulthood.Research also shows that young people can feel disempowered during the transition from care. Some feel they do not have choice in when they leave or have sufficient say in where they move to. Initiatives introduced in England in recent years aim to increase choices and decision making for young people, both in terms of having more say about their own lives and the development of services that support them. These include pathway planning, children in care councils and care leaver forums, all of which provide platforms for young people to have their voices heard.Alongside this, research with care leavers, including that carried out by researchers from the University of York, has served to provide a platform for young people to share their views about their experiences and what support they need. Increasingly, research is making use of techniques that not only enable young people to voice their perspectives but also to influence the focus of the research and the interpretation and dissemination of findings. This includes the use of participatory approaches, such as peer research and co-production, where young people take a more active role in the research process.This presentation will provide an overview of how our research is using peer research methodology, working with young people making their transition to independent living, across two innovation projects. Both projects were developed with a co-production element, ensuring young people have a voice in not only their transition but also in the support they receive.

KW - LEAVING CARE

KW - Peer Research

M3 - Other

T2 - European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF) Conference

Y2 - 1 September 2021 through 3 September 2021

ER -