Strengthening relationships and connections for young people in therapeutic residential care

Investigators

Associate Professor Tim Moore (Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University) is part of a team led by Associate Professor Lynne McPherson with Professor Anne Graham, Dr Kathomi Gatwiri, Dr Antonia Canosa, Meaghan Vosz (Southern Cross University); Dr Donnah Anderson (Charles Sturt University); Professor Robbie Gilligan (Trinity College Dublin); Dr Joe Tucci and Associate Professor Janise Mitchell (Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care, Australian Childhood Foundation). Associate Professor Stuart Barlo, an Aboriginal man from the Yuin nation from the far south coast of New South Wales, is providing consultancy, advice and guidance throughout the project.

Funding

Australian Research Council

Aims

This project aims to understand the practices that help young people living in therapeutic residential care to form strong, healthy relationships and have a positive self-identity. Researchers will critically examine the interpersonal and institutional practices in therapeutic residential care that enable or constrain the cultural and structural conditions necessary for developing trusting relationships, strengthening identity formation and building positive social connections. They will be guided by the following research questions:

• How does current policy construct relational practices within therapeutic residential care?
• What are the interpersonal and institutional practices that enable and constrain the experience of positive, trusting relationships within therapeutic residential care?
• What is the association between interpersonal and institutional practices in therapeutic residential care settings with young people’s recognition, positive social connections, safety and wellbeing?
• What are the implications of this knowledge for developing evidence-informed policy guidance, practice tools and professional learning to support therapeutic residential care?

Background

Young people in residential care face major challenges that can prevent them from forming healthy relationships and a strong personal identity, which are critical building blocks for their wellbeing and safety. For the first time in a large-scale mixed-methods study, we will listen to young people living in therapeutic residential care, staff and managers across NSW about current practice and how it can be improved.

Details

The project is made up of four phases, including:

Phase 1: Policy and program analysis will help to understand how practices are cast in policy, practice frameworks and program guidelines, to better understand the ways that practices are enabled and constrained.

Phase 2: Qualitative research will hear from young people and staff about the practices that work to strengthen young people's connections and relationships, what helps and what gets in the way.

Phase 3: Quantitative research will use surveys of young people and staff to measure the association between practice and young peoples' recognition, positive social connections, safety and wellbeing.

Phase 4: Knowledge translation process will enable the development of evidence-informed policy guidance, practice tools and professional learning to support effective therapeutic residential care.

Contact

For more information contact Associate Professor Tim Moore.