Perceptions of Children in Residential Care Homes: A Critical Review of the Literature

Abstract

In England, UK, there has been an overall decline in the use of residential care for children over the years. The aim of this systematic review was to review literature concerning children placed in residential care to investigate whether this setting can meet the often complex needs of children and to explore how residential care fits in the care system today. A comprehensive search strategy was used in nine electronic databases. Studies identified were independently assessed for eligibility by two authors using a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were extracted from the final set of studies using a data-extraction tool. A thematic analysis was then conducted. The findings of the review highlighted that residential care is an important part of the care system and can have both a positive and negative effect on children's emotional, behavioural and social development, as well as their mental health and academic progress. The main recommendations from this systematic review are that staff should have further training in mental health awareness. Furthermore, there should be an increase in individual support for children, whilst attachments and bonds between staff and children should be enhanced and encouraged.

Thematic Analysis in Social Work: A Case Study

“…Thematic analysis has gained increasing currency in various branches of social work research, such as qualitative analysis [1][2][3], aboriginal research [4], resilience studies [5], the practice of social work in healthcare [6][7][8], and minors [9,10]. Nevertheless, little has been written on the specific adaptations and modulations that thematic analysis requires for use in social work research if it is to reflect the field's specific preoccupations.…”

How a Sample of Residential Childcare Staff Conceptualize and Use Attachment Theory in Practice

“…staff and young people can facilitate therapeutic change, including attachment security (Cahill, Holt & Kirwan, 2016;Duppong, Lambert, Gross, Thompson & Farmer, 2017;Garcia Quiroga & Hamilton-Giachritsis, 2017). A recent systematic review recommends that residential services should provide attachment-informed care (Steels & Simpson, 2017).…”

“…The importance of relationships is perhaps not surprising given that existing qualitative research highlights relationships as being at the heart of residential childcare practice (Cahill et al, 2016;Steels & Simpson, 2017). The finding of varied relationships is also supported, through young people having the choice of different adults to connect with in the residential setting (Cahill et al, 2016;Furnivall, 2011).…”

“…Certainly, current findings indicate the likely impact of contextual factors upon relationships and attachment-informed care. Research increasingly outlines staff tension in defining their role; particularly the continuum of being staff but also like family (Fowler, 2015;Kendrick, 2013;McLean, 2015;Steels & Simpson, 2017). Other findings express concern regarding the dynamics of group care, including the impact of young people's behaviour on each other (McLean, 2015;Mullan, McAlister, Rollock & Fitzsimons, 2007) and balancing the needs of individuals, with those of the wider group (Furnivall et al, 2007;McLean, 2015).…”

“…Other findings express concern regarding the dynamics of group care, including the impact of young people's behaviour on each other (McLean, 2015;Mullan, McAlister, Rollock & Fitzsimons, 2007) and balancing the needs of individuals, with those of the wider group (Furnivall et al, 2007;McLean, 2015). Similarly, existing research reflects the issue of having limited or uncertain time with young people in residential care, with a particular focus on the value of time in building relationships (Cahill et al, 2016;Steels & Simpson, 2017;Tomkins, 2014). The Running head: residential childcare staff and attachment theory 31 importance of creating belonging is also recognized (Skoog, Khoo & Nygren, 2015;Watson, 2002).…”