Reflections and Recommendations: The Next Steps in my Churchill Fellowship Journey:

As I reflect on the valuable experiences and insights gained through my Churchill Fellowship, I am struck by the depth of wisdom shared by individuals with lived experience, practitioners, researchers and advocates across the USA and Australia.  Their stories, perceptions and perspectives have underscored the need for attachment and trauma informed approaches to support ‘care’ leavers through their experience of transitions and endings. The importance of culture and community has also been strongly highlighted during my travels.   

Below are my key reflections and recommendations as I transition to the next stage of my journey: developing a training program for ‘care’ experienced people and the professionals supporting them.

Transitions Are Emotional, Not Just Practical:

Transitions and endings are too often framed as logistical processes.  There is often a focus on practical skills and support, which whilst hugely important, is not the only consideration.  Meanwhile, the emotional dimension, particularly the grief and loss tied to relationships, often remains unaddressed. 

Disenfranchised grief—unrecognised or unsupported grief, such as the loss of cultural connection; loss of parental care, or a meaningful relationship with a social worker of therapist – was a recurring theme throughout my fellowship travels.  Without acknowledgement or support, these losses remain unspoken and unresolved, with the potential to impact future relating and wellbeing. 

Recommendation: Equip professionals with the psychological understanding to support ‘care’ leavers in navigating the emotional complexities of transitions and endings. This includes recognising and validating disenfranchised grief and fostering reflective conversations about endings. 

Consistency and Connection:

‘Care’ leavers spoke about the impact of suddenly leaving institutions and losing peer relationships.  When support ends abruptly, it can reinforce feelings of abandonment and mistrust. Organisations that prioritise continuity of relationships, even beyond formal care, provide a model of enduring connection that mitigates these effects.

Recommendation: Highlight the importance of ‘gradual endings’ in the training programme. Encourage professionals to plan for and communicate transitions early, while exploring ways to maintain a sense of connection and build support networks.

Language Matters:

The words we use to describe individuals’ experiences and identities carry significant weight.  The whole system is founded on the word ‘care’ and yet for many growing up in institutions or out of home placements, care was sorely absent.  Similarly, the term ‘Forgotten Australian’ compounded the sense of not being seen or acknowledged by society.  Sensitivity around language can affirm an individual’s humanity and lived experience.

Recommendation: Highlight the importance of thoughtful, person-centred language in the training programme.  Emphasise the role of the individual in defining their experience in their own terms.

Cultural Considerations Are Crucial:

Effective support for ‘care’ leavers must consider the cultural contexts and identities that shape their experiences.  From Indigenous communities in Australia and Alaska, I saw how culturally tailored approaches – such as incorporating traditional practices – fostered deeper connection.  From Australian state wards, I gained an appreciation of how growing up in an institution could also significantly impact on cultural heritage.

Recommendation: Embed cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in the training programme. Emphasize the importance of understanding and respecting the cultural identities of ‘care’ leavers and adapting practices to meet their unique needs. Raise awareness of the subtleties around cultural loss such as growing up in institutions. 

The Importance of Transitional Objects and Rituals:

Throughout my Fellowship, I witnessed the significance of everyday objects, museum exhibits and memorials as both tangible links to the past and symbols of healing and recognition.  Rituals also played an important role in the grieving process. 

Similarly, transitional objects can anchor ‘care’ leavers during transitions.  Whether it’s a handwritten letter, a small keepsake, or a shared farewell ritual, these gestures can help mark endings in a way that feels meaningful and acknowledges the importance of the relationship.

Recommendation: Incorporate guidance on using transitional objects and rituals in the training programme. Encourage professionals to explore creative, culturally appropriate ways to honour relationships and endings with care leavers.

Attachment at the Heart of Everything:

An attachment and trauma informed approach was foundational to the majority of services I encountered. This lens acknowledges the impact of adverse early developmental and/or life experiences. 

Recommendation: Embed attachment and trauma-informed principles throughout the training program.

Looking Ahead: Developing the Training Programme:

The next phase of my Fellowship will focus on turning these reflections into action. The training program will be designed to support ‘care’ experienced individuals and the professionals supporting them. My aim is to create a resource that:

• Raises awareness of attachment and developmental trauma.

• Highlights the importance of thoughtful transitions and endings.

• Considers the emotional aspects of transitions and endings.

• Embeds cultural sensitivity and inclusive practices.

• Offers guidance on the use of transitional objects or rituals as a route to internalisation of relationships. 

• Reflects on the languaging around ‘care’ experience.

  
  

This Fellowship has been an incredible journey of learning and connection, but the work doesn’t end here. I am committed to using these insights to create meaningful change within the UK care system.

To everyone who has shared their time, experiences, and wisdom with me—thank you. Your stories and contributions will be at the heart of this program and the lasting impact I hope it will achieve.