Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care Vol 2(1) February/March 2003

Contents

Editorial  Andrew Kendrick
The Value of Resilience as a Concept for Practice in Residential Settings  Brigid Daniel

Resilience is a concept that is increasingly gaining currency as a basis for practise with children and young people. The concept, however, is not easy to define and the term is often used loosely or uncritically so that the implications for practice are unclear. This paper will give a brief overview of the concept, describe some of the pitfalls of its uncritical use and set out a framework for practice. Resilience will be described both as a concept that can help assess a child's potential strengths and as a framework for practice. Much of what is indicated for pracice is what proactitioners and carers already do; however, the concept of resilience helps to set a conceptual framework around that work and provides a theoretical basis for what, in many cases, seems like common sense (Daniel, Wassell and Gilligan, 1999)

The Development of a Model of Behaviour Analysis in  a Residential Service for Children with Autism Lindsay Barrie and Vivienne Richardson

Taylaughlan House is a Fife Council social work residential resource and it currently provides full-time placements for three children who have a diagnosis of autism and display extremely challenging behaviour. Two of these children attend full-time education at a local special-needs school. Taylaughlan House consists of two adjoining houses.

The Role of a Residential Placement in Preparing  Children for Placement with a Foster Family  Clíona Murphy

This paper documents two simple innovations which are built on the interrelationship between residential and foster care. The first feature described is the co-location of the residential and fostering services,the fostering service being based in an office in the residential unit. This aspect of the service has facilitated the opportunity for responsive and inventive work with children and their birth and/or extended families. The availability of friendship families is the second innovative feature of the preparatory process discussed. Friendship families are used to provide an experience of being with a family to those children who have had limited experiences of family life. They also act as respite families to these same children once they are placed with a long-term foster family.

Searching for the Holy Grail – Excellent Staff and Carers  who Work with Children  Kate Skinner

Since Utting's report, Children in the Public Care (1991), Warner's seminal report, Choosing with Care (1992) in England and Wales, and Another Kind of Home (Skinner, 1992) in Scotland, social work managers responsible for recruiting and selecting staff and carers who work with children have been exhorted to improve the methods they use. However, a quick glance around Scotland today would show that since the early nineties not much has changed. The reasons for the relatively low level of change are many, but the imperatives from reports, inquiries and more general literature (Gulbenkian Foundation, 1993; Cullen 1996; Social Work Services Inspectorate, 1997; Marshall et al, 1999; Waterhouse, 2000) have combined to signal one consistent message: transformational change is needed in the difficult process of selecting staff and carers who work with children.

Who Cares? Scotland: 25 Years and Still Moving Forward Deirdre Watson

Who Cares? Scotland was established in 1978 to act as a consumer voice of young people in care. Initially, the organisation provided the opportunity for young people to comment on the care services they received. For the first ten years, Who Cares? Scotland operated on an entirely voluntary basis. 'Supportive adults', mainly employed in social work and residential care, worked with young people to set up a network of groups bringing young people together. These groups enabled young people to comment on care services and the adults to promote their views to relevant people in the Scottish Office and Regional Councils.

Promoting the Spiritual Well-Being of Children and Young People with Special Needs Robin Jackson and Angelika Monteux

Last year Camphill-Rudolf Steiner-Schools in Aberdeen hosted a conference entitled Promoting the Spiritual Well-being of Children and Young People with Special Needs: an Inclusive Vision. The conference, which formed part of the National Debate on Education and was financially supported by the Scottish Executive, arose from a recognition that the spiritual dimension in a child's development continues to be ignore.

Exploring the Perceptions of Young People in Care and Care Leavers of their Health Needs Julie Ridley and Steven McCluskey

This paper presents findings from a research study into the health needs and concerns of young people in care and leaving care (aged 14 to 24 years) carried out in Glasgow during 2001 (Scottish Health Feedback 2001). The study was commissioned by Glasgow Alliance Care Leavers Social Inclusion Partnership (known as the big step), which was set up in 1999 as part of the Scottish Executive's Social Inclusion Strategy. The paper discusses the findings and draws implications for future policy and practice.

Revitalising Residential and Foster Care: New Horizons  for the 21st Century: 7th EUSARF International Congress,  Trondheim, Norway, 11 – 14 September 2002 Kirstie Maclean

The European Scientific Association for Residential and Foster Care for Children and Adolescents (EUSARF) held its 7th International Congress in the ancient Norwegian capital of Trondheim. SIRCC made a good showing at the congress, with papers presented by Ian Milligan, Andy Kendrick and myself. There was a wide and varied programme with presentations from practitioners and researchers from across Europe, as well as from the USA, South Africa and New Zealand.