Challenge
In the UK, when young people in the care of the state (often referred to as ‘looked-after children’) turn 16, they may begin the transition to independent living. At this stage, local authorities can place them in independent or semi-independent accommodation. These are settings that provide a stepping stone between foster care or children’s homes and full independence, but they are not formally regulated in the same way as other care placements.
While these arrangements are intended to help young people develop life skills and autonomy, concerns have emerged around the safety, quality, and level of support provided in some of these settings.
To address this, the UK Department for Education set out to introduce national standards and improve oversight, ensuring that all 16- and 17-year-olds leaving care have access to safe, high-quality accommodation tailored to their needs.
Verian was commissioned to carry out research directly with care-experienced young people – those who have lived in or are preparing to enter this type of accommodation – to gather their views on what support they need, how services should be delivered, and how these living arrangements should be regulated in the future.
This project aimed to centre the lived experiences of young people at the heart of policy reform, giving a voice to those who are often overlooked in traditional consultation processes.
Approach
Verian’s research lead, Alice Coulter, designed a bespoke research approach that prioritised accessibility, flexibility, and ethical engagement with a vulnerable group. We worked closely with partner organisations, including Local Authorities and charities, to co-design a recruitment strategy that protected participants’ privacy and minimised barriers to engagement.
Key elements included:
- Focus groups: Delivered in collaboration with trusted partner organisations to ensure a safe, comfortable environment.
- An online community: Offered participants flexibility to engage in their own time and respond to emerging findings.
By combining synchronous (focus groups) and asynchronous (online community) methods, we were able to hear from a wider, more diverse group of care-experienced young people, many of whom are highly mobile and may be research-fatigued.
Flexibility was built into every stage of the project, from scheduling discussions at times that worked for participants, to providing multiple ways to share feedback. This was made possible through strong, sustained relationships with partner organisations who knew how best to support and communicate with this group.
These partnerships:
- Enabled successful recruitment without compromising anonymity
- Reduced attrition through tailored participant support
- Enhanced trust and honesty, both in the field and in reporting to the client
A common theme voiced by participants and stakeholders alike was that young people often feel excluded from research findings. To address this, Verian created a ‘young person-friendly’ executive summary that distilled the key findings and recommendations into a concise, accessible one-pager. Partner organisations were encouraged to share this directly with young people who participated.
This commitment to inclusivity and accessibility extended throughout the reporting process, ensuring the voices of care-experienced young people were not only heard but also understood and acted upon.
Impact
The research findings played a key role in shaping the national consultation on standards for independent and semi-independent accommodation. Feedback from both the client and partner organisations affirmed the success of the approach, demonstrating how a flexible, inclusive, and collaborative methodology can drive meaningful policy change.
Key learnings:
- Working with seldom-heard voices requires more than just inclusion – it demands adaptability, trust, and respect.
- Collaboration with frontline partners is a critical success factor for engaging vulnerable groups.
- Research findings are only as impactful as they are accessible. Tailored reporting is essential for engagement and long-term impact.
This project exemplifies best practice in conducting research with hard-to-reach, vulnerable young people. Through flexibility, collaboration, and ethical design, Verian delivered high-quality, actionable insights that helped ensure new policies are shaped by the voices of those who live them every day.
.svg)
Back
