and reach thousands of daily visitors
15 SEPTEMBER 2008
NO 1348
Children's homes
Soon after the publication of the `Pindown' report in 1991, the Secretary of State for Health announced a detailed review of residential child care in England. The subsequent publication, which became known, after its author, as the `Utting Report', set out a comprehensive overview of child care services and a series of well-received conclusions and recommendations (Department of Health 1991a). The report emphasised that residential care is an essential service and set out the circumstances in which it was felt that it is most appropriately used: namely, primarily for adolescents who, euphemistically, `may present challenging behaviour'; for those where foster care has failed or is otherwise inappropriate; with siblings who otherwise could not be kept together; and for those who have been seriously damaged and require special help. Recommendations covered issues related to the welfare of children, management and resources, including the pay and conditions of residential staff.
A similar review was undertaken in Wales (Social Services Inspectorate, Wales and Social Information Systems 1991). Its general analysis was along the same lines as `Utting' but its tone was even more forthright. The report bluntly described residential care as, `a marginal unspecific activity taking those whose needs the rest of the system fails to meet' (p. 11). Thus most admissions were said to be unplanned and to occur in crisis. It was revealed that the only consistent policy statement about the use of children's homes in Wales was that it should be a short-term option: `the implication must be that the children's home experience is a damaging one and must be kept to a minimum' (p. 11). Staff were felt to be lacking essential skills and training and the objectives set were often mutually incompatible. The most critical remarks were reserved for attempts to deal with challenging behaviour:
The review revealed a substantial failure to meet the needs of this group. The attention of the staff was diverted to deal with other conflicting demands. Homes which provide a service of this kind need to be staffed by highly skilled people who are well trained at the outset and supported by continuing training and extensive and intensive backup from other professionals and within their own professional support system. There is no more professionally demanding task in the social services field than this and it can only be handled at the highest level of skill (p.12).
DAVID BERRIDGE AND
ISABELLE BRODIE
Berridge, David and Brodie, Isabelle. (1988). Children's Homes Revisited. London. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. pp. 14.
REFERENCES
Department of Health. (1991). Children in the public care: A review of residential care. London. HMSO.
Social Services Inspectorate, Wales and Social Information System. (1991). Accommodating children: A review of children's homes in Wales. Cardiff. Welsh Office.
