'Supporting Transitions and Throughcare: Some Lessons from Secure Care' - In Residence 12, August 2009

Research in the area of throughcare and transitions has highlighted major problems (Dixon and Stein, 2002 and 2005; Stein, 2006). In response to such findings, regulations and guidance were published, outlining responsibilities for supporting young people leaving care (Scottish Executive, 2004). In spite of this, the development of good practice in transitions has been slow. The SIRCC stakeholder review of 2007 identified throughcare and aftercare services as key areas for  development and in 2009, during consultations held in relation to the National Residential Child Care Initiative (NRCCI), this was emphasised yet again. This paperoutlines the findings of a recent evaluation of practice in the secure sector and explores some general principles which can be applied across the residential child care sector.