“Could an Increased Focus on Identity Development in the Provision of Children’s Services Help Shape Positive Outcomes for Care Leavers?” A Literature Review

ABSTRACT

The focus for this literature review developed from reading American research by Oyserman and Destin around the theme of identity and possible selves. The intention of this review was to consider whether an identity-based perspective could be applied to investigate the multiple outcomes of UK care leavers. The aim was to explore the relevant literature to consider whether an increased emphasis on identity development in the provision of children’s services could help increase positive outcomes for care leavers. Children’s Services in this review is taken to mean all agencies involved in the provision of services to children and young people in and leaving care. Although outcomes for children in care have improved in recent years, there still remains a large widening gap between these and the outcomes for all children. Therefore understanding differences in how young people manage, can provide important policy and practice implications. The majority of articles reflected an interpretative epistemology where a phenomenological approach was used to gain data relating to the “lived experience” of the participants. A key objective was therefore to conduct a critical interpretive analysis of the literature using an ecological approach to uncover answers to the research question.

KEYWORDS:

• Identity Development
• Care Leavers
• Looked-after Children
• Attachment Theory
• Resilience
• Belonging

Acknowledgements

This research was conducted during the MA Social Work programme at The University of Salford, UK. The allocated tutor during the research process connected to this article was Mary Shannon Lecturer in Social Work at The University of Salford. The author would like to thank her for her support and encouragement.