ARU Final Report

Full Report – March 2021 35 “Yes, watch Netflix online with friends. Talk to friends via social media, Instagram.” (FG: Female, 17) The SCLC (2020) state that digital connection has been crucial during the pandemic to enable social contact, promote positive mental health and emotionalwellbeing, access support includinghealth, education and training, and financial services, and participate in decision-making forums. However, the digital exclusionof care leavers has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Although the government laptop scheme made 200,000 devices and 50,000 routers available for childrenwith social workers, care leavers and disadvantaged year 10s, this only covered 37% of the total need (Children’s Commissioner, 2020). Indeed, the MCR Pathways Lockdown Survey (2020) found that of the 1,347 young peoplewho participated in their survey, 14.5% did not have appropriate technology and/or internet access at home and 19.2% did not have a suitable space to work. Similarly, the Essex Involvement Team (2020) and Roberts et al. (2020) reported that some care experienced young people were provided with laptops from social care and many expressed concerns for peers who did not have access to technology who, as a result, were further marginalised. Indeed, technology supported the maintenance of relationships, so those who did not have access to technology or the finances to support it felt further separated from their friends (Essex Involvement Team, 2020). In our research, Leaving Care Services including personal advisors/social workers, involvement and participation teams, and charities for care leavers, were finding new and creative ways to facilitate connection for care leavers, for example through WhatsApp groups and online meetups, which was hugely appreciated. Care leavers emphasised the importance of having somebody there and feeling able to contact them, for example regular check-ins from their personal advisor/social worker or Leaving Care Services: “I can always message my PA if I am feeling down via Email.” (Q: Male, 19) “I wouldn’t say I necessarily felt lonely because I knew someone was always there – like I could always pick up the phone.” (FG: Female, 23) “My social worker texting and calling me.” (Q: Female, 24) “Social services gave me a wifi hub to help with my internet connection.” (Q: Female, 17) “People from the leaving care group always keep in touch, we were all given help to stay in touch with a computer and internet.” (Q: Female, 24) “We all received a laptop and a internet system to help us all keep in touch. A person from the care leavers group always emails or messages to make sure we are well.” (Q: Female, 24) “I was more connected to friends and family throughout the pandemic because we weren’t allowed to see anyone we took advantage of our social media apps and spoke almost daily.” (Q: Female, 22) “I have stayed in touch with [named person] at [local charity]. Did a [local charity] event last week, walk around [local attraction]. [local charity] has a leniency, so I am connected to more people this way.” (FG: Female, 17) Indeed, the literature shows the plethora of ways professionals maintained contact with care experienced young people they worked with, including using telephone, WhatsApp, texts, emails and Facebook (Roberts et al., 2020; Essex Involvement Team, 2020). As a result of no travel and having more time, some professionals were able to engage with young people they had not had much contact with prior to lockdown and in turn the young people welcomed this light touch approach. Overall, professionals reported that young people respondedwell to online communication, with some observing a shift in the power imbalance to reflect a more equitable relationship than when meetings are face-to-face (Essex Involvement Team, 2020).