Secondary data analysis of social care records to examine the provision of mental health support for young people in care

Phillips, Alice R., Halligan, Sarah L., Denne, Megan, Hamilton‐Giachritsis, Catherine, MacLeod, John A. A., Wilkins, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2780-0385 and Hiller, Rachel M. 2023. Secondary data analysis of social care records to examine the provision of mental health support for young people in care. JCPP Advances 3 (2) , e12161. 10.1002/jcv2.12161

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Abstract

Background: Young people in care are much more likely to experience mental health difficulties than the general population, yet little is known about the provision of mental health support for this group in the United Kingdom. Methods: Using routinely collected social care data, we explored the provision of mental health support for 112 young people in care in the UK. We identified young people experiencing elevated internalising or externalising difficulties in their first year in care (based on strengths and difficulties questionnaire scores) and extracted data on mental health referrals and provision. We generated descriptive statistics relating to provision of mental health support and used regressions to examine predictors of mental health provision, and associations between support and mental health outcomes one and 2 years later. Results: Eighty‐one percent of the children (n = 79) were referred to mental health services in their first year of being in care. Referrals were usually for emotional or conduct problems. Those with higher externalising symptoms were more likely to be referred than those with higher internalising symptoms (OR = 1.2, (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.38)). Females were more likely to access support than males (OR = 3.82 (95% CI: 1.2, 13.3)). Sixty‐eight percent of children (n = 66) accessed mental health services in their first year of being in care. Of those who accessed services, support ended prematurely for 29 (44%) of them, often due to placement instability or disengagement. Accessing support in the first year of care was not associated with changes in mental health 1 year (OR: 2.14 (95% CI: 0.62,7.29)), or 2 years after entering care (OR: 0.72–8.57, (95% CI: 0.72, 8.57)), although methodological limitations are noted. Conclusions: Mental health difficulties for children in care are recognised quickly, but mental health support may be difficult to access, with issues evident in retention and engagement.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education) Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE)
Additional Information:	License information from Publisher: LICENSE 1: URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Publisher:	Wiley Open Access
ISSN:	2692-9384
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2023
Date of Acceptance:	1 March 2023
Last Modified:	14 Jun 2023 17:16
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/158193

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