Implementation of Leaving Care Policy: Continuing Care in Scotland

ABSTRACT In Scotland, local authorities have the duty to provide ‘continuing care’ to young people who are cared for in foster, kinship or residential settings (known as ‘out‐of‐home care’ in many regions) on their 16th birthday. This provision allows young people up to the age of 21 to remain in the same setting, with the same carers, and receive support as they transition from being ‘looked after’, through interdependence, to independence. International studies have consistently demonstrated that care leavers experience poor outcomes, and this has made transitions a focus of policy within many countries. This paper presents findings of a study on the implementation of continuing care in Scotland, which gathered perspectives from practitioners in a range of roles to support young people during their transition from care. The findings highlight the inconsistency in the implementation of continuing care within Scotland, as well as the barriers experienced in providing this support to young people and the unintended outcomes that have arisen in the provision of continuing care. Implementation science is used to help understand the supportive context that leaving care policies require, and how local and national government can act to ensure more consistent care provision for young people leaving care in Scotland and internationally.