Sally Peplow

We started by listening to what people told us being in care felt like. What helped. What hurt. What stayed with them These conversations shaped the Care Experience Questionnaire (CEPQ Now, we’re asking care-experienced people to complete it —

champion independent, impactful research. The day featured keynote presentations from children’s champion Steven Russell and lived experience practitioner, artist, and advocate Saira-Jayne Jones. It also included research talks and

that any care they received had been conditional — primarily on the exchange of money but also on other non-altruistic factors. What was particularly striking about this was that this perception appeared to promote an overwhelming sense of uncertainty about the authenticity of

and breaking down communication, often with serious consequences for the very children they aim to support. Conway argues that without understanding how trauma shapes children’s behaviour — and how adults unconsciously react to that distress —

What stands out most is how being reported missing became so routine in the person’s life, it made police involvement feel normal. And over time, it lost meaning to the point where officers stopped taking it seriously…

To do this we’ve developed a questionnaire based on what careexperienced people told us about their time in care the good the bad and the things that really made a difference. Now we need as many people as possible to take part so we can build strong evidence and push for change

Sometimes you need a little light in the dark… We can harness the moments of joy too If you’ve spent time in care, take part in the research. Your experience could help shape a better care system — one that does what you know is needed.

the good and the bad. Are you care-experienced? How was it for you? Help change the system — take part in our study today. 📍 Link in bio Learn more: thecareexperiencestudy.com Let’s build a better future — together.

Are you care experienced? Haven’t taken part yet? This is your moment. Change needs you. 📍Link to study in bio 🔗 Learn more: TheCareExperienceStudy.com #TheCareExperienceStudy #CareExperienced #SocialCareResearch #MentalHealthMatters #YourVoiceMatters #ShapeChange #CareLeavers

highlighting how trauma can shape the way children see the world, process emotion, and react under stress. DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.14126 These findings can be used to guide trauma-informed practice. The Care Experience Study sits alongside this important work.

Even decades after leaving care, care-experienced adults are more likely to die earlier than their peers. Worryingly, this risk is even greater among those who entered care more recently… The Care Experience Study is about changing that.

The Care Experience Questionnaire explores how care experience shapes mental health — based on what care-experienced people told us matters. 🧡 Add your voice. 🌐 Learn more or take part: thecareexperiencestudy.com

Now, the Care Experience Questionnaire is building on these insights to explore how care shapes mental health. Click the link to take part or share it with your network: 👉 livpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jf…\_9pJcdVqXzruTxfU More info? 📧 [email protected] 🌐 thecareexperiencestudy.com

In our qualitative study, care-specific experiences like uncertainty, instability, loss, and lack of control all boil down to one thing - stress. We know from decades of research that intense, prolonged, and repetitive stress exposure disrupts every major bodily system.

Which care experiences are shaping mental health? We asked care-experienced people to reflect on their time in care — focusing on basic care, emotional warmth, stability, guidance and boundaries, and stimulation.

📢 Visit the site, take part, and help us spread the word. #CareExperience #CEP #MentalHealth #Questionnaire #SocialCareResearch #CareLeavers #FosterCare #systemchange

My research suggests these experiences are widely shared across the care-experienced community. I believe they significantly shape mental health outcomes — obvious, right? But to convince those in power — to demand change — we need to prove it. Not just whisper it.

The questionnaire is live, and the mission to reach as many people in the care-experienced community as possible is underway. The more people who take part, the sharper the picture becomes. Let’s keep the momentum going.