Youngsters' Perspectives on Continuity in Their Contacts with Youth-Care Services. (16th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Naert, Jan; Roets, Griet; Roose, Rudi; Vanderplasschen, Wouter
• Is Part Of: British journal of social work. Volume 49:Number 5(2019)
• Page Start: 1144
• Page End: 1161
• Publication Date: 2018-11-16
• Subjects: Continuity of care -- experienced continuity -- youth perspectives -- children and youth services -- case management; Social service -- Periodicals; Social workers -- Periodicals; 361
• DOI: 10.1093/bjsw/bcy103
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-3102

Abstract

Abstract: Continuity is seen as an important aim for the quality of youth-care services. However, views on continuity are predominantly guided by experts, without much attention to user perspectives. This paper focuses on youngsters' experienced continuity in relation to youth-care services. Twenty-five youngsters, who were in residential care or reached by low-threshold youth services, were interviewed about their experiences in and out of care. In thematically exploring the biographical narratives for important experiences of continuity, three major themes emerged: (i) the need for footholds in moments of existential chaos, (ii) the importance of timing of interventions to match the youngsters' perspectives and (iii) the importance of the youngsters' impact on their own care pathways. This study shows the need for support that is imbedded in a relational network within the context of youngsters in vulnerable situations. Rethinking youth services towards a better connection with these contexts is essential. Furthermore, the amount of control youngsters experience in their care interventions seems to be beneficial to the experience of continuity. It is argued that continuity should be seen as a process, in order to leave more space for negotiation and flexibility throughout the youngsters' experiences in youth-care services.