Children and young people in care are among the most
vulnerable in society. Across the UK, a small but significant
proportion of looked-after children are cared for in residential
settings such as children’s homes.
Compared to the looked-after population in general, children
and young people in residential child care have some of the
highest levels of need, including increased emotional and
behavioural difficulties (Ward and Holmes, 2008). It is
therefore crucial that staff have the right skills and support
available to them.
Following a regional review of residential child care in 2007,
the five health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland
have introduced ‘therapeutic approaches’ in a number of
children’s homes, and in the regional secure units, with the
aim of improving staff skills and outcomes for young people.
This At a glance briefing summarises an evaluation of the
approaches conducted between May 2010 and February
2012. The full details can be found in SCIE Report 58
(Macdonald et al, 2012).