The report, by the National Foundation for Educational Research, foundtoo many leaving care teams lack mental health experience and thereforestruggled to support care leavers and lacked knowledge of existingprovision such as that which is provided by the voluntary sector.
Appropriate accommodation for care leavers with mental healthdifficulties was found to be scarce, particularly for those with thehighest levels of need.
Conflicting models of practice between child and adolescent and adultmental health services and higher thresholds for referrals into adultservices also affected professionals' ability to provide care leaverswith proper support.
Care leavers said they avoided using the available services becauseaccessing support was emotionally challenging. A lack of satisfactionwith services, poor relationships with staff and fear of stigma alsodeterred them from turning to mental health services for help.
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