Residential Care

Residential care refers to any group living arrangement where children are looked after by paid staff in a specially designated facility. It covers a wide variety of settings ranging from emergency shelters and small group homes, to larger-scale institutions such as orphanages or children’s homes. As a general rule, residential care should only be provided on a temporary basis, for example while efforts are made to promote family reintegration or to identify family based care options for children. In some cases however, certain forms of residential care can operate as a longer-term care solution for children.

Residential care can be a positive alternative for some girls and boys when it is used appropriately and meets certain standards. For example, small group home living arrangements or supported independent living can work well in cases where children (often older teenagers) don’t feel comfortable in a family setting, or where large groups of siblings want to stay together. Similarly in cases where children have suffered trauma, severe abuse or neglect, have a severe disability or require specialised support, small group settings where trained staff can provide therapeutic care may be an appropriate care option. As much as possible, residential facilities should be small, community-based, organised to resemble a family-type or small-group situation and allow for sufficient staff to provide individualised attention to children.

It is important to distinguish between residential care and institutional care, which should only be used as a last and temporary resort for children. Institutional care refers to large-scale group care within big institutional facilities and has been associated with a wide range of problems for children including physical, social and emotional under-development - with babies and infants under the age of three especially vulnerable to lasting harm. Long periods in an institution can deprive children of positive individual attention from consistent caregivers, make it difficult for them to assimilate back into a family and community, and are often linked to increased risk of sexual and physical abuse, a lack of stimulation, and harsh discipline.

In recent years, deinstitutionalisation has been at the heart of national care reform efforts, which seek to reduce reliance on institutional care and to promote family and community based care options for children instead. This includes efforts to promote ethical volunteerism within residential care centres, educate donors and to avoid proliferation of orphanages and children’s homes after humanitarian emergencies.

The documents in this section outline residential care options for children, examine the damaging impact of institutions, explore family and community-based care alternatives and describe care reform efforts including initiatives around ethical volunteerism.

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Indonesia: National Standards of Care For Child Welfare Institutions

Ministry of Social Affairs the Republic of Indonesia , 2011

Indonesia’s National Standards of Care for Child Welfare Institutions is a crucial policy instrument, drafted in response to the recommendations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, regulating the provision of alternative care for children.

Attachment-Informed Practice with Looked After Children and Young People

Judy Furnivall, SIRCC, on behalf of Scottish Attachment in Action - Institute for Research and Innovation on Social Services, 2011

This document stresses the importance of healthy attachments for children, especially looked after children. It provides an overview of attachment theory, presents the policy context of looked after children in Scotland, outlines the evidence on effective interventions for children in care and their families, and highlights findings and practice implications.

Neurodevelopmental Effects of Early Deprivation in Post-Institutionalized Children

Seth D. Pollak, Charles A. Nelson, Mary F. Schlaak, Barbara J. Roeber, Sandi S. Wewerka, Kristen L. Wiik, Kristin A. Frenn, Michelle M. Loman, and Megan R. Gunnar - Child Development, 2011

Abstract

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Child Protection in the Philippines: A Situational Analysis

Save the Children , 2011

This situational analysis was commissioned by the Child Protection Initiative as a preliminary exercise to develop evidence-based recommendations to guide Save the Children in the Philippines to develop interventions. Priority areas are children in residential care, children in armed conflict and disasters, children in situations of migration (including for trafficking purposes), and children in exploitative and hazardous work conditions.

The Rights of Vulnerable Children Under the Age of Three: Ending their placement in institutional care

Dainius Puras - The Regional Office for Europe of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (ROE OHCHR), 2011

This document was commissioned by the Regional Office for Europe of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (ROE OHCHR). One of its aims was to stimulate discussion at the Sub-Regional Workshop on the Rights of Vulnerable Children Aged 0 to 3 Years in Prague on 22 November 2011.

Positively Caring: Ensuring that Positive Choices Can Be Made about the Care of Children Affected by HIV

EveryChild , 20 Nov 2010

This report examines the impacts of HIV on the care choices of children, exploring how HIV affects whether or not children can remain within parental care, and on the alternative care options open to them.

Looked-After Children and Young People

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence/ NICE public health guidance 28 , 01 Oct 2010

The aim of this guidance is to improve quality of life of looked-after children and young people in England, including their physical health, and social, educational and emotional wellbeing. It focuses on and encourages organisations, professionals and carers to work together to deliver high quality care, stable placements and nurturing relationships for looked-after children and young people.

Children's Voices: Experiences and Perceptions of European Children on Drug and Alcohol Issues

European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction , 02 Sep 2010

The purpose of this paper is to give meaning and insight into some of the key drug and alcohol issues that affect children from the perspectives of the children themselves. Research shows that large numbers of children who are separated from their parents are particularly vulnerable to developing drug and alcohol problems. Special attention is paid throughout the report on children looked after by relatives, foster carers, and institutions.

Orissa: Juveniles Fleeing From Torture and Abuse

Asian Center for Human Rights, 01 Sep 2010

A fact-finding report on the fleeing of juveniles from the Government Observation Home, Special Home and Children’s Home (Combined) for Boys at Berhampur under Ganjam District of Orissa on 21-22 September 2010

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Cambodia Country Report: Poverty alleviation with a focus on vulnerable peoplethrough strengthening collaboration between the social welfare and health services

Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, 01 Aug 2010

This report from the Cambodian Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation outlines the efforts of the Cambodian government to address the needs of vulnerable people.