Summary
Therapeutic residential care is a relatively recent development in out-of-home care service provision for young people who are unable to be placed in family-based care. This paper provides an update on developments in therapeutic residential care, discusses the implications of these developments, and touches on further issues and dilemmas that should form the focus of research and practitioner partnerships in the future.
Key messages
- Therapeutic residential care is a relatively recent development in service delivery for young people with complex care needs in out-of-home care.
- There is emerging consensus about the effective elements of therapeutic residential care including: shared understanding of young people’s needs; placement based on shared needs; therapeutic input tailored to needs; best possible connection to family and culture; and prioritising relationship-based work.
- The Australian definition of therapeutic residential care reflects the unique aspects of therapeutic care service provision in this country.
- Many Australian jurisdictions are adopting therapeutic residential care and this is now reflected in policy and practice documents in many jurisdictions.
- Some Australian jurisdictions have begun to mandate minimum qualifications for residential care workers.
- The operational features of therapeutic residential care services still need to be better understood.
- Research focusing on aspects of the referral criteria, program elements and activities, and post-care activities is needed to better understand what makes therapeutic residential care effective.
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