Improving the Employability and Wellbeing of Care-Experienced Young People: Initial Findings from the I-CAN Project

Background: Care-experienced young people face an elevated risk of experiencing disadvantages across manifold domains, including health, housing, education, and employment. There is a dearth of accessible interventions targeted at this population to help them navigate the ‘cliff-edge’ transition to adulthood and improve their life chances. The 8-week I-CAN programme was designed to address the provision gaps and support care-experienced young people’s learning, personal development, and progression. Methods: A mixed methods design was used as part of a pilot evaluation study. The participants were n = 11 care-experienced young adults (three males; eight females); aged 19–30 years, M = 22 (3.17). The data collection methods comprised programme statistics, well-validated, self-reported questionnaires, and a focus group with I-CAN programme recipients. Results: The integrated quantitative and qualitative findings showed tentative support for the effectiveness of the I-CAN programme, with the majority of care-experienced young adults transitioning to a confirmed progression route (training, education, or employment) after completing the programme. The findings cautiously suggest that alongside proposed learning outcomes, the recipients benefited in terms of their personal development (mental wellbeing and positive self-image and empowerment). Some candidate core ‘ingredients’ or factors that had facilitated positive programme outcomes were also identified. Conclusions: Future research should focus on integrating theoretical, outcome, and process issues, and refining the I-CAN theory of change.