1. Welcome

2. Objectives www.irct.org.uk Everyone leaves this workshop……. With a clear understanding of the challenges facing young people preparing for further and higher education Better equipped to support them

3. And we all ……. Objectives www.irct.org.uk Leave with ideas about the next steps Will demonstrate what we’ve learnt with every young person we support Will pass on our learning and experience to others supporting care leavers

4. Introductions A young person’s perspective Anticipating the barriers and challenges Supporting Evidence Effects of Prolonged Stress Contingencies; Expectations; Planning Programme www.irct.org.uk

5. Psychiatric disorder affects 57% in foster care, 96% in residential care 48% young care leavers endure long term mental illness 45% 5-17 year olds assessed as having a mental disorder Evidence www.irct.org.uk

6. Impacts on the development of cognitive functioning and impairs executive functioning Over a prolonged period of time, stress responses become excessive and toxic to the body, which can have life long consequences. Toxic stress turns off any functions that slow down reactions - functions that can be essential to protecting ourselves when faced with a threat. www.irct.org.uk Stress

7. the ability to think before reacting is severely affected, as the limbic system takes over when threatened………flight, freeze,fight the person is unable to think through the consequences of their behaviour before reacting Stress www.irct.org.uk

8. These lost functions include the ability to: self-regulate process information make sense of the world interact positively with other people And often the person struggles with every aspect of daily life Stress www.irct.org.uk

9. Young People who struggle with self-regulation are likely to be perceived as presenting challenging behaviour. They may be hyper-aroused and acting out, or dissociated and switched off. Processing disorders add to the young person’s difficulties, leading them to misinterpret neutral events as frightening, Unable to account for their own feelings and behaviour. Stress www.irct.org.uk

10. Where a person receives and understands the emotional communication of an other without being overwhelmed by it and communicates this back to the other person As a result the other person no longer feels overwhelmed themselves, this restores their capacity to think about the situation as well as their ability to process their emotions. Co-regulation www.irct.org.uk

11. Able to hold on to another person’s difficult feelings without being overwhelmed by themselves Makes calm and thoughtful attempts to understand the problem Can convey a feeling that what the other person is feeling is tolerable and meaningful…… and manageable www.irct.org.uk Co-regulation

12. Stability Leaving care later – Staying Put Targeting support – early career choices Strong friendship network and “key kin” Planning Better Outcomes www.irct.org.uk

13. Aspiration – Aim High! Contingencies Partners Voice of the Young Person Immigration Status / Triple Planning Planning www.irct.org.uk

14. Show Respect and Understanding Be non-judgmental – respond in a personal way It’s all about relationships – show commitment Aim High – encourage aspiration DON’T GIVE UP! ……and finally www.irct.org.uk