Declare Your Care: Children and young people

Page last updated: 12 May 2022
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Declare Your Care

Declareyourcare CYP image young woman in hospital with a health professional

Declare Your Care is a year-long, campaign focusing on four key population groups which we know have lower awareness of CQC.

Key findings for young people, their parents and carers

Our research reveals that young people (age 16 to 24) do not raise concerns about their care. They fear they will be seen as a troublemaker, or they don’t think it’ll make a difference. More young people have also experienced poor care when using mental health services.

The research looked at people in England who have had experience of health or social care in the last 5 years, either as a patient or carer.

  • Young people are more likely not to raise a concern due to fears of being seen as a troublemaker (36% of 16-24s)
  • 44% of young people (16-24) or their carers did not raise concerns or complain as they did not think it would make any difference. (This compares to 35% of adults and 21% of children under 16).
  • 27% of young people aged 16-24 have experienced poor care when using mental health services in the last 5 years. This compared with only 7% of adults aged 55 and over.

Stories

Photo of a young person, declare your care campaign

A young person's story

      

Photo of foster carer, declare your care campaign

A foster carer's story

Also read about

Speaking up when support isn't working: A young person realised their support was not working for them quite early in their programme, but felt unable to speak up. When she did, she had different support which worked well and managed to return to work.

What to do about poor care