A professionals’ perspective of the experiences of young adults leaving the care system

Abstract

In Malta, almost 500 children and adolescents reside in a children’s or adolescent’s residential home or with a foster family because their needs cannot be met within their biological family environment. This results in a number of young adults who yearly age out of the care system. During the transition from living in care to living independently, these young adults may encounter various challenges that may potentially lead to a difficulty in functioning well in society. The aim of this research is to identify the challenges young people leaving the care system face. It also considers the services that are available from a professionals’ point of view. In this study, a qualitative approach was utilised. Five semi-structured interviews with professionals who work directly in residential settings or with individuals who are in foster care were carried out. The information gathered was then analysed using Thematic Analysis. The results identify a number of challenges these young adults face, which include a sense of fear, having difficulty in managing relationships, challenges related to financial issues and other challenges related to finding suitable, affordable accommodation. Another challenge is that the young adults feel unprepared for the transition. This lack of sufficient preparation is coupled by having to take on various responsibilities on their own as their support system is quite limited. These challenges are particularly amplified by young adults who would have resided in residential homes as opposed to foster homes as in the latter case, the young adults usually continue residing there for as long as they wish to if their foster carers are happy to continue to offer the placement. The results also identify a number of services, such as financial benefits, counsellors and psychiatrists, and services provided by the Housing Authority that the young adults can benefit from during their transition. One of the services the young adults can benefit from is being eligible to reside in a semi-independent living program provided by the various residential homes. However, not everyone can benefit from this service. Criteria which make young adults eligible to benefit from this service include having exhibited good behaviour during their time in car. They also need to be studying or working and they have to be trusted by the professionals involved. Once the results were analysed, loopholes in some services were identified and although throughout the years the services have increased, significant gaps still exist particularly because not every individual can be eligible to benefit from certain services. The findings identify that further work has to be carried out to help the young adults during the transition. A collaborative approach can help the young adults since different professionals with different areas of expertise can help the young adult. A course where individuals learn various skills would be beneficial since it would provide some basic knowledge about how to deal with day-to-day problems. Additionally, supporting the young adults during their transition as well as making after care services more inclusive towards individuals who because of their traumas could not excel could help these young adults have a smoother transition.