A retrospective exploration of care experiences shaping the mental health trajectories of children and young people in care: Part 2 – The experience

Care-experienced adults are at an increased risk of poor mental health outcomes. Disentangling the role care plays in these outcomes is challenging. This paper reports findings from a qualitative study that aimed to identify aspects of care experience with the potential to influence mental health outcomes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 care-experienced adults (6 female, 4 male; ages 18–34) from across the UK. Interviews were guided by the domain of Parenting Capacity outlined within the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (Department of Health [DoH], 2000) and the transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Two overarching themes were developed: The Experience and The System. Findings are reported across two complementary papers. This paper focuses on The Experience, within which six sub-themes were identified: The Strange Situation, Burden, Loss, Caregiving, Touch, and Glimmers. These findings provide novel insight into specific aspects of care experience that may shape mental health outcomes. They also highlight the need for a trauma-informed approach in children’s social care that not only considers pre-care experiences but also prioritises understanding, preventing, and reducing care-specific stress.