Caring For Children: A Study of Residential Care in Northern Ireland

Author(s): Social Services Inspectorate
Document Type: Report
Year: 1995
Publisher: Department of Health and Social Services
Place of Publication: Belfast
Subject Area(s): Social Care
Client Group(s) : Children

Background to the Research

  • 'Caring for Children' is a qualitative and quantitative report which considers residential care in Northern Ireland in terms of:
    • The existing provision for the residential care of both children in both children's homes and the care units of training schools.
    • The residential child in care population within the context of all children in care of Health and Social Services Boards/Training School Managers.

Research Approach

  • A qualitative analysis of existing care provision forms part one of the report. The findings are drawn from the SSI's 1990/93 cycle of inspections of children's residential units, monitoring reports and the professional expertise of inspectors. Part two of the report is a quantitative analysis which considers a number of areas relating to residential care staff and children in their care.

Main Findings

Summary of Findings: PART 1

  • It is concluded that the current structure of residential provision does not assist with the attainment of the standards set out by the Regional Strategy (1992/92).
  • A system for planning and care plans was found to operate in accordance with the procedural requirement of the training schools of Boards. A wide variation in the standard of children;s individual care plans was noted. The participation of children and parents at reviews has been increasing, although remains at a lower level in the training schools than children's homes.
  • The care careers of many children are characterised by disruption. The study found that placement of children in residential care was frequently planned and arranged in absence of preferred alternatives.
  • A full developmental and medical assessment of children did not generally occur within the first few weeks of admission to care. A major shortcoming noted in the case files of children was the absence of personal and and relevant family medical histories.
  • There remains discrepancies in the availability of specialist psychiatric and psychological services across the Province and between the training school and children's home sectors.
  • The report notes the need for health promotion strategies and the encouragement of healthy lifestyles for children.
  • Children resident in children's homes and training schools generally under-achieve academically. In Children's homes, exclusion from home is seen as an increasing problem.
  • Levels of aggressive behaviour among children in residential care are increasing and staff require guidance on permissible forms of control.
  • The study suggests that at times the care units of the training schools are perceived and used as places of sanction.
  • To date, the training schools have not developed a child protection policy. The absence of a uniform approach across the residential spectrum is a matter of concern.
  • Within all residential facilities, levels of bullying and peer sexual abuse were significant. The wide age range of children in some facilities, the practice of sharing bedrooms and the previous exposure of some children to abuse are factors associated with peer abuse.
  • Staffing levels are generally adequate, although lower in the training schools than children's homes.
  • Qualifications levels vary within Boards and between statutory, voluntary and training school sectors. Although the number of qualified residential staff is increasing they are not in the majority; nor are they inclined to remain in residential care in the long-term.
  • Secondment of existing staff for professional training, has resulted in temporary staff being recruited to provide cover; generally these staff are unqualified and have limited residential experience. A significant number of staff have no formal qualification of any kind. The study found instances in which temporary staff were left in charge of a facility.
  • Women account for 64% of the overall residential workforce; by contrast two of the training schools employ more men than women.
  • Team Leaders were not sufficiently well supported by regular supervision within the children's homes; the majority of team leaders held a social work qualification at DSW/CSS levels. A significant number had also undertaken post qualifying training in management and child care; this was not, however, the case in training schools.

Summary of Findings: PART 2

  • There is an absence of an adequate gender balance within facilities across the sectors.
  • There is a lower level of qualification in the voluntary children's homes and training schools in comparison with statutory facilities.
  • The turn-over rate of staff within the children's home sector is significant, particularly at residential social work level.
  • There is an absence of management and practitioner training for first line managers within the training schools.
  • There is an absence of consistent staff: child ratio across the residential sector.
  • Forty-eight of the 74 managers had been in post for more than 10 years.
  • Eighty-one staff were seconded to professional social work training by their employer, 72 from the children's homes.
  • Children in family placement types were on average younger than those cared for within a residential setting, with the training school population being the oldest.
  • With the exception of the training schools, all placement types had very slightly more girls than boys.
  • The highest level of placement stability is found in foster care where more than half (53%) of the children had been in their current placement for more than three years. Older children in foster care tended to be in their current placement for periods exceeding five years.
  • Residential care tends to be used predominantly as a short term placement option, generally for older children.
  • There are a significant proportion of children who have never been fostered.
  • Overall, the survey of care careers suggests that current placement type is most likely to be influenced by previous placement and that entry to training schools is most likely to follow on from a children's home setting
  • Statutory children's homes experienced a higher throughout of children than did the voluntary homes.
  • Children discharged from residential placement types were on average older than children discharged from a family type placement.
  • Forty three children aged under 10 years were discharged from children's homes with seven of these children being aged under five years.
  • More Protestant than Catholic children were discharged from children's homes. The equal balance between Catholics and Protestants discharged from training school masks gender differences within each population.
  • The majority of children discharged from residential care returned to their parents/relatives; 31%, however, remained within the care system. A total of 39 children moved to independent living.
  • The majority of children discharged from residential care had been in placement for less than one year. A similar pattern is found in the foster care population, however, fewer than a quarter of children in home-on-trial had been in this placement for less than a year.
  • The highest level of demand for training school places originates from the children's home sector; beyond control was the most likely reason for such requests.
  • Sixteen per cent of requests for a children's home place related to children aged under 10 years, with 19% of these requests being for children under five years.
  • A wide variation exists between the Boards in the demand for residential places for children aged 16 years and over.
  • While an equal number of residential requests are made for Catholic and Protestant children there are differences between the two residential sectors. A higher number of requests for training school places were made in respect of Catholic children and there was a lower level of demand for children's home placement for this group.
 

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