Residential child care is a crucial, though relatively neglected, area of social work. And yet, revelations of abuse and questions of effectiveness have led to increasingly regulatory and procedural approaches to practice and heightened political and professional scrutiny. This book provides a broad and critical look at the ideas and policy developments that have shaped the direction of the sector. It sets present-day policy and practice within historical, policy, and organisational context. The book applies a critical gaze to attempts to improve practice through regulation and, fundamentally, ... More

Residential child care is a crucial, though relatively neglected, area of social work. And yet, revelations of abuse and questions of effectiveness have led to increasingly regulatory and procedural approaches to practice and heightened political and professional scrutiny. This book provides a broad and critical look at the ideas and policy developments that have shaped the direction of the sector. It sets present-day policy and practice within historical, policy, and organisational context. The book applies a critical gaze to attempts to improve practice through regulation and, fundamentally, challenges how residential child care is conceptualised. It argues that practice needs to move beyond dominant discourses of protection, rights, and outcomes to embrace those of care and upbringing. The importance of the personal relationship in helping children to grow and develop is highlighted. Other traditions of practice, such as the European concept of social pedagogy, are also explored to more accurately reflect the task of residential child care.