What was care like for me? A systematic review of the experiences of young people living in residential care

•Young people who reside in a context where agentic capacity can be developed are more likely to achieve normative milestones in residential care.•Well-being in residential care can be negatively affected by the systematic culture in which care homes are embedded in.•Residential care lacks flexibility when meeting the needs of the individual resident.•Peer relationships carry positive and negative aspects which in turn impact on the individual’s well-being in residential care.