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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