A multi-perspective exploration of the service needs of adolescent girls with multiple and complex needs

The increasing population of adolescents with multiple and complex needs (MCN), who are at the extreme end of a spectrum of case complexity, poses an important challenge to child and adolescent social and health care. Adolescent girls with MCN are especially vulnerable and suffer from fragmentation of services. Yet, their service needs are not comprehensively covered in the literature, especially not from their own or their relatives’ perspective. Better knowledge of the necessities of adolescent girls with MCN could ameliorate service provision for this vulnerable population. Our aim is a multi-perspective description of the needs of adolescent girls with MCN, as part of an overarching participatory action research. We conducted in-depth interviews with 9 adolescents and 12 (step)parents, and did focus groups with 44 professionals. All participants were involved in a collaboration project between a child welfare residential facility and a child and adolescent psychiatry hospital, aiming to optimize care delivery for adolescent girls with MCN. Combining all perspectives, we found that the main service needs were: 1) focus on youth-professional relationship; 2) agency; 3) holistic and adjusted care delivery; 4) efficient coordination; 5) focus on the individual; 6) continuity of care. Our findings enrich the knowledge about service needs of adolescents with MCN and are found to be in line with the framework of needs-led child and youth care: continuous focus on clients’ needs, participation in the care process and professionals’ displays of needs-led attitudes and skills. We also highlight the importance of integrating the voices of adolescents, their parents, and professionals in research, care delivery planning and implementation.