What is the challenge your project is going to address and how does it connect to the theme of 'How can we improve across system boundaries?​

A young person raised in their parental family experience a gradual transition into adulthood, but for those leaving care there is often nowhere to return for support or guidance. They are often excluded from the care of family who scaffold and support on-going health and well-being.

Evidence tells us that ‘’ Children and young people who grow up in care are up to four times more likely to suffer poor health 30 years later than those who grew up with their parents” (Murray 2020)

The NHS Long Term Plan recognised the impact that “the most vulnerable children, who need extra help from the state to safeguard their wellbeing, do not reliably get the support or access to the services that their needs demand. This results in poorer health outcomes, particularly for care leavers’’.

The transitions nurse will boost the culture, capabilities and structures needed for learning and improving health outcomes.

What does your project aim to achieve?

Currently our Children Looked After health team services do not routinely extend to care leavers, and this period of transition is a time of uncertainty and vulnerability. Health assessments cease at the age of 18 and there is no further specific follow up by health beyond the leaving care health summary. This is an area for growth and an opportunity to review what a young person approaching leaving care age wants or needs to support this period of transition and to ensure that they are not lost between health services.

The project aim is to develop and deliver a high-quality transition health service for care experienced young people. Ensuring that they receive support, guidance, and advocacy around health needs during this critical phase of their lives. Including a focus on care leavers with disabilities access/engagement with Buckinghamshire’s SEND offer.

Working with the Leaving Care Team at the council will be essential.

How will the project be delivered?

Trust is key to support engagement and continuity of care, and the children looked after (CLA) health team could ensure access to services continues and that specific health needs are met post 18. Continued support with any anxiety associated with leaving care with a focus on on-going engagement with health care to help sustain good health and prevent ill health later in life.

In Bucks we currently have 261 care leavers (18-21) + plus 47 former care leavers and 67 Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children of which 37 are 17 years old (as of 22/09/23). This would be the initial reach with the potential to offer a service to age 25 in the future (319 leaving care aged 21-25 as of 22/09/23).

55 care leavers aged 18-21 have an EHCP

Alongside increasing capacity to the team to provide this service there would be an element of co-design collecting information from the young people about the support needed and the best way to provide this in the future.

How is your project going to share learning?

The aim is to gather information about what the gaps are and how young people would prefer to receive this support. So that we can gain a better understanding of the long-term provision requirements in Bucks and potentially transferable to other parts of the country.  The operational team would be coached by QI Team in this element and back up resource provided if required.

QI projects are shared within the organisation and more widely in the Bucks, Berkshire, Oxfordshire network via QI Stand Up and conference.  These are shared on social media platforms such as Spotify and BHT APP.  Our network includes social care.

Updates on learning to the Q Community.

Potential poster submission to national improvement conference.