scholarly journals Towards recognising practitioners working in out-of-home care as experts in everyday life: A conceptual critique

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Foster Care ◽  
Young People ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Conditions Of Employment

This conceptual critique elaborates on the phrase ‘experts in everyday life’, which the author first used in 2015 in connection with recognising the contribution of foster carers and residential care workers to the education of children in out-of-home care (OHC). The article examines the case for greater recognition of the children’s workforce in OHC, and situates the concept of ‘expertise’ in the rise of recognition of children’s status as competent social actors, as well as in professionalisation debates. The article examines two examples, drawing on the author’s prior research in residential care and foster care, of expertise in everyday life in OHC. It concludes that, viewed from a social pedagogical perspective, expertise in everyday life refers to the complex milieu, or environment, in which the activity is taking place, as well as the relational encounters and activities themselves. It refers to the capacity for supporting young people in the mundaneness and predictability of everyday events and routines. Recognition of practitioners as experts in everyday life is not a substitute for changes to the structural conditions of employment but is a first step towards it.

scholarly journals CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION: THE CHOICE BETWEEN ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE AS CHILD PROTECTION RESPONSES

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah Bonfili
Keyword(s):  
Foster Care ◽  
Young People ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
Choice Of Care

This article seeks to expand the conversation started in the primary article by Stephen Gay in this volume entitled ‘The Choice Between Adoption and Foster Care as Child Protection Responses’. It discusses the need for stability and permanence of care arrangements for children and young people living in out-of-home care in Part II before moving on in Part III to consider the option of widening the choice of care arrangements to better meet their needs. The importance of listening to the voices of children and young people and giving them a say in where they live and how they are cared for is also explored in Part IV.

Residential programs for children and young people: What we need and what we don’t need

2007 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Ainsworth
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Residential Programs ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
Opinion Piece ◽  
Care System

This article is written as a bold opinion piece. It stems from the fact that once again we are seeing reports of abuse in residential care while at the same time there are calls for the reclaiming of residential care as a positive choice for children and youth. Yet there seems to be confusion as to exactly what function these programs should perform in the broader out-of-home care system. There are also important questions about the knowledge and skills that staff would require if such programs are to be non-abusive. A rejoinder to this opinion piece would be welcome.

Therapeutic Kinship Care: A Carer's Perspective

2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 221-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynne McPherson ◽  
Noel MacNamara
Keyword(s):  
Foster Care ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Kinship Care ◽  
Therapeutic Foster Care ◽  
The Past ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Home Based Care

Kinship-care placements in Australia are now more prevalent than foster care and are the fastest growing form of out-of-home care in this country (AIHW, 2014). On 30 June 2013, 93% of Australian children in out-of-home care were in home-based care, with 43% of these in foster care and 48% in relative/kinship care (AIHW, 2014). The past decade has seen a greater understanding of children's needs in out-of-home care, with models of therapeutic care showing promise in Australia and internationally. These models, however, are designed almost exclusively for children placed in foster care or residential care, and as such do not consider the unique features of kinship care. This paper will identify the needs of children in out-of-home care, before briefly examining the concepts of therapeutic foster care as a response to children who have experienced trauma. Key distinctions between foster care and kinship care will be highlighted and implications for a conceptual model of therapeutic kinship care discussed.

Young people, prostitution and state out-of-home care: The views of a group of child welfare professionals in Victoria

2008 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 31-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhiannon Bruce ◽  
Philip Mendes
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Peer Influence ◽  
Relationship Education ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Placement Decisions ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
Systemic Factors ◽  
Older Males

Previous research suggests a link between experiences of state out-of-home care – particularly residential care – and involvement in prostitution. This study explored the nature of this relationship via semi-structured interviews with nine Victorian health and welfare professionals who had worked with young people living in residential care. The findings suggest a complex interaction between precare and in-care factors. Environmental and systemic factors within residential care that may contribute to prostitution involvement include peer influence, older males, drug use, staffing factors, poor provision of sex and relationship education, placement decisions, and social isolation. Some significant implications for policy and service delivery are identified.

Children Australia–A 40 Year Retrospective of Australian Out-of-Home Care: Reflections of the Past and Future Directions

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 274-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dave Vicary
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Research Practice ◽  
Collective Knowledge ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
The Past ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
Specific Focus ◽  
Future Improvement

For 40 years, Children Australia (and previous incarnations) has provided an enormously valuable space for research, practice and policy to delineate challenges, successes and innovation on issues pertaining to the wellbeing and welfare of children and their families. Articles published in the Journal during this period have been incredibly influential and have added to our collective knowledge of children, young people and their families. Nowhere has this been more evident than the area of out-of-home care (OOHC). This paper will explore and reflect on some of the issues that have been articulated in papers published in the journal over the last 40 years – with a specific focus on Australian Kinship, Foster, Residential and Therapeutic Residential Care. Past issues that are still presenting current challenges will be described and opportunities for change and future improvement identified.

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