Children looked after and care-experienced young people face unique challenges in the criminal justice system. Our training and toolkits are designed to equip professionals, from prison offending managers to prison staff, with the skills, knowledge, and practical tools needed to provide trauma-informed, consistent, and compassionate support.

Our resources help bridge the gaps in understanding and ensure that care-experienced young people are seen, heard, and supported to thrive.

Supporting Care-Experienced Young People In Custody

"Care Leavers Cymru's support for people with care experience in custody was by far the best support for this cohort we've seen, and is some of the most transformational support we've seen with any prisoners. Their expertise in this space is unparalleled, and any work seeking to improve outcomes for care-experienced people will benefit hugely from their input.”

MoJ

We are proud to share that our work has been recognised by the Ministry of Justice policy team

Why This Work Matters

Care leavers are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, often entering custody with limited support networks and unresolved trauma from their time in care. Without targeted intervention, these young people face higher risks of reoffending, unemployment, and homelessness. This work matters because it bridges the gap between care and custody, offering hope, practical tools, and a fair chance at building a different future.

Why Care Leavers Need Support

Leaving care is a major life transition, and for many, it happens earlier and with less preparation than their peers receive when leaving home. In custody, these challenges are magnified, isolation, lack of advocacy, and unfamiliar systems can compound feelings of abandonment. Providing consistent, specialist support helps care leavers navigate custody, maintain their wellbeing, and prepare for life beyond the prison gates.

From Care to Custody: Understanding the

Journey

The path from the care system to the criminal justice system is rarely straightforward, but it is often shaped by instability, disrupted education, and a lack of trusted adult relationships. Understanding this journey means recognising the role of trauma, social exclusion, and missed opportunities for intervention. This perspective is essential to developing effective responses that break the cycle rather than reinforce it.

Addressing the Gap

Despite the known vulnerabilities of care leavers, there is still no consistent national approach to meeting their needs in custody. Services can be patchy, communication between agencies can break down, and too many young people fall through the cracks. Addressing the gap means creating joined-up systems, improving training for professionals, and ensuring care leavers have equal access to rehabilitation and resettlement opportunities.

The Story Behind the Statistics

Statistics tell us that a significant proportion of people in custody have experienced care, but numbers alone cannot capture the lived reality. Behind each statistic is a personal story of loss, resilience, survival, and potential. Listening to these stories and acting on what we learn is crucial if we are to create meaningful change that prevents future generations from facing the same outcomes.

Psychological and Behavioural Benefits

By investing in trauma-informed corporate parenting training, prisons and probation service can create safer environments, improve outcomes for care-experienced young people, and strengthen compliance with emerging legal duties. This training is not just about meeting standards, it’s about transforming the way staff understand, engage with, and support some of the most vulnerable individuals in custody. The benefits are clear and measurable:

This training is grounded in trauma-informed principles and designed to support not only improved outcomes for care-experienced young people, but also to enhance safety, stability, and staff wellbeing within custodial and community justice settings.

For Care-Experienced Young People:

Reduced isolation and withdrawal through relational approaches that build trust and connection
Improved emotional regulation as staff learn to respond to behaviours as expressions of need
Increased sense of identity and belonging, reducing shame and internalised stigma
Better engagement with education, training, and support services
Reduced vulnerability to grooming and exploitation, as trusted adults become protective factors
Stronger continuity of care through improved awareness of entitlements and responsibilities

For Staff and the Wider Environment:

Improved behaviour and fewer incidents as staff recognise and de-escalate trauma responses
Reduced use of restrictive practices due to increased relational safetyLower risk of staff burnout and secondary trauma, as staff are equipped to respond with empathy and boundaries
Improved morale and confidence, knowing how to support complex needs effectively
Greater safeguarding awareness, particularly for recognising coercion, gang involvement, or sexual exploitation
Reduction in high-risk behaviours (e.g. self-harm, violence, refusal to engage) through consistent, caring responses

By embedding these psychological insights and approaches into daily practice, this training helps create a more stable, safer, and more developmentally responsive environment for everyone involved.

Get in touch today to see how we can support you.

Supporting Care-Experienced Young People In Custody ​