Therapeutic approaches to social work in residential child care settings

Following a regional review of residential child care in 2007, the five health and social care (HSC) Trusts in Northern Ireland introduced 'therapeutic approaches' in a number of children's homes and in the regional secure units. The approaches were used to help staff understand how trauma effects children and young people. This report gives the results of an evaluation of these approaches. The five approaches evaluated were Sanctuary, CARE (Children and Residential Experiences), Social pedagogy, ARC (Attachment, Self-regulation and Competency) and MAP (Model of Attachment Practice). The evaluation looked at the evidence for each of the chosen models and explored their similarities and differences. It also gathered the experiences of key stakeholders – including managers, staff and young people – of using the models and their effects. The report also gives the results of an analysis of the patterns in reporting untoward incidents. Staff reported that the training did improve their practice and young people noticed a improved 'atmosphere'. The report is available as a pdf document and online resource.