Lead supervisor:
Dr Julie Doughty 
Other supervisor(s):
- Dr Hannah Bayfield
Start date: October 2020 (Part time)
Award: General
Subject Pathway:
Criminology and Law
Thematic Cluster:
Rights and Governance Cluster
Towards agency of opportunity for young people leaving care: A comparison of Welsh and Norwegian models of practice
This research seeks to explore how care-experienced young people (CEPs) in Wales and Norway actively navigate their transitions from care, with a focus on their agency in shaping positive outcomes in education and employment. While the education and employment gaps between CEPs and their non-care experienced peers are well documented, this study aims to move beyond a deficit-focused narrative. Instead, it highlights the ways in which CEPs draw upon their unique strengths, resilience, and available resources to overcome challenges and create opportunities for themselves.
Rather than framing CEPs solely in terms of vulnerability or disadvantage, this research examines how they exercise personal agency and utilize existing support systems to pursue their goals. By comparing service provision in Wales, where targeted support is provided, and Norway, with its universal welfare model, the study will explore how different systems either foster or limit opportunities for CEPs. Despite differences in welfare structures, CEPs in both contexts demonstrate resourcefulness and adaptability as they navigate transitions to adulthood.
By combining Bourdieu’s capital theory and Archer’s social stratification of reality, this research will illuminate the complex interplay between social structures and individual agency. These theoretical frameworks will allow us to explore how CEPs leverage their social networks, education, and skills to challenge systemic barriers and shape their life trajectories. Ultimately, the study aims to identify mechanisms and interventions that can further enhance the agency and potential of care-experienced individuals, fostering more inclusive policies and services that empower them to thrive.
Research Questions:
- What opportunities and resources are available, in theory and practice, to support care-leavers in Wales and Norway?
- To what extent do social structures in Wales and Norway enable or challenge care leavers in realising their full potential and making empowered choices during their transition from care.
- How does locality influence care leavers’ access to opportunities, and how do care leavers in different regions navigate these opportunities to shape their life trajectories.
- How do care-leavers in Wales and Norway perceive their experiences of the leaving care process, and how do these perceptions reflect their strategies for overcoming challenges and pursuing success?