Support for young people over the age of 18 transitioning into
adulthood
Very often volunteer guardians continue supporting young people
after they reach the age of 18, when the legal guardianship ends. The
research suggests that although under certain conditions children
in the care of youth welfare offices are entitled to continued support
after the age of 18, they are often able to maintain their perso nal
relationships with their volunteer guardians beyond that age.
Communication with the birth family
Guardians’ regular contact and communication with the birth
family is essential to maximise interactions between both parties
and work together to support the child. Volunteer guardians report
investing time in supporting young people’s communication with
their birth family (e.g. via Skype or Facebook); they also often in-
form parents of any news and involve them in important decisions.
Lack of a shared understanding of guardians’ duties and
responsibilities
The study shows that guardians do not always share a common
understanding of their duties and responsibilities. Volunteer guard-
ians frequently describe themselves as a friend or a parent figure
whose role is to support the young person in managing his or her
life, make important choices and stand up for the young person’s
rights. Therefore, the way volunteer guardians perceive and under-
stand their role is often full of contradictions and ambiguity. This
situation results in different guardianship practices and different
experiences for children and young people.
Insufficient qualifications, expertise and training
No professional or educational qualifications are required to
become a volunteer guardian. Volunteers recruited as guardians in
principle do not have to have professional experience, knowledge or
expertise in working with unaccompanied and separated children
and young people. Although they receive some training and support
through local authorities, the study has highlighted the need for
regular training and professional supervision for volunteer guardi-
ans prior to and throughout their guardianship service.
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