My Strongest Card Is ‘I’m Not a Social Worker.’ Practitioner Perspectives on Care-Leavers’ Service Engagement

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Care-leavers’ engagement with multi-agency support services can enhance their experiences in transitioning from local authority care towards independent living, with the potential to improve their wellbeing outcomes. However, not all young adults leaving care engage with multi-disciplinary support services. Little is known about why from the perspective of practitioners including social workers and personal advisors who have a key role in supporting care-leavers. Their perspectives can yield insight into how engagement is conceptualised, and barriers and enablers to engagement with services. To address this key knowledge gap, our research using an interpretive descriptive approach, explored multi-agency practitioner perspectives on the barriers and enablers to care-leaver’s engagement with support services. We conducted qualitative research using semi-structured interviews and focus groups with thirty multi-agency practitioners working in Wales, to explore their perspectives of care-leavers’ engagement with support services. Following thematic framework analysis we identified key themes: fostering engagement, structural constraints, and the social services label. These themes were discussed with practitioners. Key messages for practice were agreed including maintaining a non-judgemental approach, transparency in communication, being patient and sensitively persistent. These findings informed a good practice toolkit for practitioners.