Research helps support young parents in Neath Port Talbot

Neath Port Talbot Council has approved new standards of support for young parents who are in or about to leave  care.  

The good-practice charter is based on a five-year study funded by Health and Care Research Wales, called: ‘The children of ‘looked after’ children: care outcomes and experiences,’ led by Dr Louise Roberts.  

It was carried out by the Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE), Cardiff University, and ran between 2014 and 2019.  

The study highlighted a significant gap between the support needs of parents in and leaving care and the actual services provided including housing, health and social care, and concluded with a policy and practice reform suggestions.  

In an online session run by CASCADE, Dr Roberts spoke about the study and said: “The idea didn’t come from me sat in my office, it came from young people connected to ‘Voices from Care Cymru’.” 

The charter was developed by parents with experience of care who worked with professionals from charities and councils from across Wales. It sets out guidelines and commitments for the council to help prepare young people for parenthood-  including providing baby essentials, support with basic care such as bathing and changing as well as information and help with financial support and local resources. 

Dr Roberts spoke about the study and said: “The idea didn’t come from me sat in my office, it came from young people connected to ‘Voices from Care Cymru’.

Dr Roberts continued: “Parents were becoming concerned with the support that was available for parents. They were seeing young people go on to start families of their own and in some cases that was a really positive experience, but in too many instances they felt that young people weren’t being properly supported and in some cases were becoming separated from their children. 

“We highlighted some important data in regards to outcomes, experiences and perspectives and support.” 

Dr Roberts then undertook a further impact project, Supporting Parents in and Leaving Care, which led to the development of a good-practice charter. 

The original study was funded by a Health and Care Research Wales Social Care PhD Studentship award and in partnership with VFCC, NYAS Cymru and TGP Cymru and received further funding from Cardiff University’s ESRC Impact Acceleration Account.