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The Right2BCared4 project is based on the principle that young people aged 16-18 should have a greater say in the decision-making process preceding their exit from care and that they should not be expected to leave care until they reach the age of 18. A three year pilot of the project began in October 2007 involving approximately 1,100 young people from a total of 11 local authorities.
Aims
This project will:
- Assess the costs and effectiveness of preparation and leaving care planning processes in Right2BCared4 pilot sites and to identify any differences in terms of costs and effectiveness in comparison to standard provision and practice;
- Assess the costs and effectiveness of advice and service provision to promote good outcomes for care leavers;
- Describe the role of Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) and Independent Advocates and their contribution to the effectiveness of care planning for Right2BCared4 care leavers;
- Assess which organisational structures for the delivery of IRO services promote effective planning and in which circumstances they work best;
- Describe the nature, extent and quality of care leavers’ involvement in the care planning and review process;
- Identify what facilitates young people’s full participation;
- Assess the suitability and stability of final care placements and young people’s satisfaction with final outcomes;
- Analyse Right2BCared4 care leavers’ outcomes, including educational attainment, housing status, levels of self-esteem and any impact that the pilot project might have had in order to identify whether the model has particular benefits for some groups of care leavers;
- Identify models of best practice in terms of: planning and provision for young people leaving care; funding allocation to ensure effectiveness and efficiency; strengthening relationships between social workers/personal advisors/IROs and young people; empowering young people to be fully involved in planning their transition to adulthood.
Methods
- Mapping exercise of all the approaches that the 11 pilot sites have adopted to operationalise the principles underpinning the Right2BCared4 initiative.
- Focus groups with social workers, personal advisors and IROs will be conducted to obtain an insight into the core issues and challenges that have arisen from implementing new models of delivery to meet the Right2BCared4 objectives.
- In-depth study of eight local authorities. Data will be collected from two authorities that have not implemented Right2Bcared4 projects as well as from six pilot authorities. Methods will include a survey of young people conducted by peer researchers, including a self esteem questionnaire, and quantitative data set.
- Further in-depth work with eight young people in each pilot site will involve data collection from case records, and peer researchers conducting face to face interviews to track the progress of those who have been involved in Right2BCared4 and compare their experiences and outcomes. Telephone interviews will be conducted with each young person’s social worker or personal advisor and IRO.
- Work will be undertaken in two pilot sites and the two comparison sites to explore the relative costs of operating Right2Bcared4 as compared with those of operating a standard leaving care service.
Outputs
- First interim report based on the mapping exercise and the focus groups.
- Final report to DCSF, to include messages for policy and practice and best practice examples.
- Report and summary for young people written by the peer researchers.
- CCFR Evidence paper to summarise key findings and issues for policy and practice.
Implications for policy and practice
Care Matters: Time for Change (Department for Education and Skills, 2007) proposed a further package of measures designed to enhance the preparation of, and support for, care leavers. The findings from this evaluative study will provide information on the effectiveness of the Right2BCared4 pilots and whether the scheme has helped care leavers achieve better outcomes.
Sponsor
Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF)
Project team
Emily Munro (CCFR); Professor Harriet Ward (CCFR); Kim Perren (CRSP); Professor Alan France (CRSP) and the National Care Advisory Service, Catch 22 (formally Rainer).
Dates
November 2008-July 2010.
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