Talking to looked after children and care leavers

Healthwatch Waltham Forest undertook research on the health services and transition experiences of looked after children and care leavers. They spoke to 13 young people aged 17 to 21 who were either currently in care or had recently left care, with the aim of informing the redesign of local services. 

The young people reported mixed experiences of health services. Common concerns included difficulties accessing GP appointments, long waits on the telephone, problems registering with services after moving, poor awareness of available services and inconsistent communication. Many participants felt that health assessments were not always meaningful and lacked clear follow-up. Positive feedback was given about pharmacy services, sexual health services and the Family Nurse Partnership, which was widely praised for providing consistent, personalised support.

Mental health support emerged as a significant issue. While some young people found counselling and therapy helpful, others described long waits for referrals, lack of follow-up, frequent changes of staff and difficulties accessing support because of homelessness, work commitments or financial barriers. Participants also reported challenges during the transition from care to independent living, including limited guidance on registering with health services, accessing support and understanding what services were available to them.

Healthwatch Waltham Forest concluded that looked after children and care leavers needed better information, communication and support throughout their healthcare journey and during transition to adulthood. The report recommended improving access to GP and mental health services, strengthening support during transition, reviewing the health assessment process, considering financial barriers to accessing care, and ensuring services are more coordinated, flexible and responsive to the individual needs of this vulnerable group.