Characteristics and circumstances of the young people subject to HSRs and their families

Young people on HSRs and their families faced multiple vulnerabilities and chronicle problems not dissimilar to those of other looked after children, such as:

  • Current or previous experience of poor housing conditions (i.e. overcrowding, dampness, etc.) and homelessness.
  • Current social housing.
  • Lack of employment and training opportunities both for young people and their parents.
  • Low educational attainment both for young people and their parents.
  • Financial difficulties and long term dependency on state benefits.
  • Fluidity of household composition.
  • Current or previous experience of domestic violence.
  • Frequent changes of address sometimes accompanied by changes of school, GPs and other support services.
  • Alcohol and/or drugs misuse (young people and adults).
  • Mental health problems experienced by young people but specially mothers.
  • Offending.