What creates high quality therapeutic residential care? This is the question often asked of agencies, of staff, of policy makers and of the young people themselves. There is no simple answer! Intensive therapeutic residential care is a complex operating environment. It cares for and supports young people with the most complex needs and interacts with …
Young people living in residential care are highly vulnerable and have commonly experienced a significant level of trauma and abuse. They often present with complex needs and a range of risk-taking behaviours such as aggression, self-harm, sexualised behaviours, substance misuse and other activities that place themselves or others at risk. As such, it requires a …
Touch is the first sense acquired and the last lost and our skin is our largest sensory organ. Touch is highly significant in our everyday encounters, relationships, and emotional, social and even physical development (Johansson, 2013).
When it comes to working in residential care, organisations often look for workers with qualifications as evidence of theoretical knowledge and "hard skills", despite the clear needs of young people in residential care that require the "soft skills" of empathetic and compassionate communication. Which is more important in this crucial caring role?
Foster Care Week, observed from September 10-16, is an annual celebration acknowledging the incredible contribution our volunteer foster carers make to the lives of children in out-of-home care. The theme for 2023 was “Hearts of Gold”, a theme that reflects the type of person it takes to commit to welcoming someone else’s child into their home.
Foster Care Week is an annual celebration of foster carers and their supporters for contributions they make to children’s lives. Jess Wright, an occupational therapist with a psychology background, recently received the Outstanding Support for Exceptional Circumstances Award for her work supporting foster carers over an 18-month period.
