Examining the Perceptions and Attitudes of Staff Working in Community Based Children's Homes: Are Their Needs Being Met?

Heron, Gavin; Chakrabarti, Mono

doi:10.1177/1473325002001003645

Cited by 14 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 2 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Research has shown that caregivers working in big orphanages have high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and job dissatisfaction, but this finding does not hold true for those working in smaller homes (Heron & Chakrabarti, 2002). One possibility for this difference may be that in smaller homes there is a chance to establish affectional bonds with children and have a rewarding experience, but this has not been studied.…”

Section: "Getting Involved": a Thematic Analysis Of Caregivers' Perspmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Getting involved”

Quiroga

Hamilton‐Giachritsis

2016

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A large number of children around the world are currently living in residential children's homes and a central figure in those settings is the caregiver. The relationship children establish with their temporary caregivers can be a crucial factor in their lives.However, little research has been conducted with caregivers working in institutional settings regarding their experience and the relationship they establish with the children they care for.This article presents the results of a qualitative study conducted with 43 caregivers working in eight different residential children's homes in Chile. The information was gathered through focus groups and thematic analysis was conducted. The results show that caregivers report their experience of work and their relationship with children very positively and that this is characterized by their emotional involvement with children. This perspective appears to differ from that observed in large institutions in Europe, where there is some evidence that a more impersonal approach is predominant. However, it is acknowledged that this is based on caregiver perceptions which may or may not reflect cultural variations. The conclusion highlights the potential positive impact that caregivers can have on children's lives, alongside some factors that negatively affect caregivers' work, which could inform policy and procedures in order to provide better care for these children who (for various reasons) remain in residential care rather than family based care.

show abstract

Section: "Getting Involved": a Thematic Analysis Of Caregivers' Perspmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Getting involved”

Quiroga

Hamilton‐Giachritsis

2016

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Practitioners have reported suffering from feelings of fear, anger and impotence (Knorth et al, 2007) and being unable to deal effectively with the behaviour and needs of people in their care (Heron and Chakrabarti, 2002a).…”

Section: Education As a Transitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Moving In’: Difficulties and Support in the Transition to Higher Education for In-service Social Care Students

McSweeney¹

2013

Social Work Education

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Very little is known about factors that contribute to the quality of caregiving practices in institutional settings (Heron & Chakrabarti, 2002). Caregiving professions in general have been described as experiencing a high degree of stress (Kahn, 2005).…”

Section: Research On Institutional Rearingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Becoming their mother: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of orphanage personnel in Ukraine

Vashchenko

Easterbrooks

Miller

2010

Infant Mental Health Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Institutional caregiving can have adverse effects on children, yet little is known about the caregivers of institutionalized young children. We surveyed staff in three Ukrainian Baby Homes about their attitudes toward the nature of their work and the needs of the young children in their care. Seventy-one caregivers completed anonymous, semistructured surveys. Popular reasons for working in Baby Homes included benefits and convenient work shifts, morality, and affection for children. Caregivers reported both favorable aspects of the work (enjoyment of children, professional satisfaction) and work difficulties (conflicts, lack of cooperation, little administrative support). In addition, they noted deficiencies in care: high caregiver-child ratio, frequent care disruptions, and lack of stimulation. Direct caregivers (in-room "nannies," educators, and nurses) and other providers (e.g., clinic nurses, physicians, therapists) differed in university-degree attainment, professional motivation, enjoyment of children, professional satisfaction, and perceptions of self as substitute mother. A number of potential "windows for change" were identified, including recognition of deficiencies in institutional care and possibilities for improvement. Implications for interventions are discussed, including the need to consider lack of staff support, high emotional stress, internal conflicts, beliefs and attitudes about institutionalized children and their biological parents, and differences in staff educational achievement.

show abstract

Examining the Perceptions and Attitudes of Staff Working in Community Based Children's Homes: Are Their Needs Being Met?

Cited by 14 publications

References 2 publications

“Getting involved”

“Getting involved”

‘Moving In’: Difficulties and Support in the Transition to Higher Education for In-service Social Care Students

Becoming their mother: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of orphanage personnel in Ukraine

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About