The needs of looked after children from an adverse childhood experience perspective

There has been considerable interest in the association of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and health and social care outcomes in adulthood. One way of thinking about the needs of looked after children is through an Adverse Childhood Experiences lens as looked after children have commonly been exposed to very high rates of ACEs. This paper makes the case that the association between exposure to ACEs and poor adult outcomes in the general population is heightened in looked after children and care leavers who have the same outcomes as the general population, but more often and at an earlier age.