For most young people, the transition to adulthood is a gradual process. They move out of home when they feel ready, often with family support to fall back on if things don’t go as planned. But for young people leaving out-of-home care — especially those in residential care — this transition is far from smooth. For many, turning 18 feels less like a step into independence and more like being pushed off a cliff without anyone or anything there to catch you.
A continuing trend in calls received by the Guardian relates to transition to independence from non-family-based care.
It is a sad reality that young people in the care system are expected to vacate care when they turn 18 and to fend for themselves, when we know that other young adults remain living at home, sometimes into their thirties, because they do not have the means to fend for themselves in a tight and aggressive housing market during a cost of living crisis.
There is also a continuing inequity between young people living in family-based care when they turn 18 years of age, and those who have been residing in non-family-based care.
The Reality of Leaving Residential Care
Young people in residential care have often faced significant adversity, including abuse, neglect, associated trauma and/or family breakdown. Many have lived in multiple placements, moving from one temporary home to another. Perhaps even been promised a forever home, then to experience the opposite. When they turn 18, the system effectively declares them adults and expects them to be self-sufficient overnight.
While some young people have shared that they feel they have foster carers, mentors, or extended family to support them beyond 18, many in residential care share that they simply don’t have this option. Instead, they face:
Housing instability – Many young people leaving care struggle to find safe and affordable housing, often ending up in homeless shelters, couch surfing, or in unsafe living arrangements.
Financial hardship – Without family to help, young care leavers must quickly learn to manage bills, rent, food, and transport, often while juggling education, support payments or low-paid jobs.
Emotional isolation – The lack of a support network can make the transition incredibly lonely and overwhelming. Many care leavers struggle with mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression (and this is potentially on top of pre-existing needs)
Limited life skills – Residential care settings don’t always prepare young people with basic skills like cooking, budgeting, or dealing with landlords.
What Support Do Young People Need?
To successfully transition from care to independence, young people need more than just a birthday card and a goodbye. They need:
Stable Housing – Access to long-term, affordable, and safe housing is critical. Programs that provide supported accommodation beyond 18 can make a significant difference.
Financial Support – Many young people need financial assistance while they complete their education or find stable employment.
Life Skills Training – Young people should receive practical support in cooking, budgeting, job applications, and understanding their rights as tenants.
Emotional and Mental Health Support – Counselling, peer support groups, and mentorship programs can provide guidance and reassurance.
Education and Employment Pathways – Scholarships, training programs, and employment support can help care leavers build a stable future.
How Well Do Child Protection Services Support This Transition?
The short answer? Not well enough.
Whilst we see pockets of excellent practice, this is inconsistent, and the system knows this. Many child protection systems are built around crisis management rather than long-term support. While there are options for extended care that allow young people to stay in care beyond their 18th birthday. Most young people feel cut off at 18, leaving them vulnerable to homelessness, exploitation, and poverty. Even where extended care options exist, they often fail to provide the consistency and emotional support that young people need.
Some programs, like post-care support services, try to bridge the gap, but access is often limited, and funding does not meet the level of need (both in demand and complexity). Young people frequently report feeling abandoned by the ‘system’ that was meant to protect them.
What Needs to Change?
The transition from care to adulthood shouldn’t be an abrupt and unsupported process. Those that are charged with the responsibility to guide, develop and nurture children and young people need to address some fundamental areas:
- Extend the concept of care beyond the age of 18 for all young people, not just those in family based placements.
“If I was a foster carer, and I had the means, I would do everything I could to pay and support that [young person], but its unfair that if your in resi [placement] you’re out.”
- Provide guaranteed housing options and supports for care leavers to prevent homelessness or falling in to homelessness (and this also includes couch surfing).
“I’ve been asking for a house for 2 years…I have nowhere to go…you (DCP) took me from my family because they were unsafe and now you want me to go back…I will end up on the streets.”
- Offer financial and practical support beyond 18, including ongoing mentoring and case management.
“I think that the case should be assessed, if they seem like they need more time to properly adjust to independence and how to do stuff, yeah they can access that.”
- Ensure residential care prepares young people with real-life skills well before they leave the system.
“I started the process of independent living at 14… that benefited me starting at that age.”
Final Thoughts
Leaving care at 18 shouldn’t mean being left to struggle alone. With the right support, young people can transition successfully into adulthood, breaking cycles of disadvantage and creating positive futures for themselves. It’s time for child protection systems to stop thinking of 18 as an “exit point” and start treating it as the beginning of a supported transition.
