Differential assessment of residential group care for children and young people

Abstract

Twelve qualitative variables frame the production of outcomes in residential group care for children and young people. These are used to examine contemporary themes in social care practice with children and families. This assessment typology offers social workers, managers, researchers and policy-makers both valid and reliable baseline measures for use in evaluating residential services for children and young people. The typology also provides comparative interval measures for use in longitudinal evaluations of quality. Close attention needs to be given to the impact each of these variables has on the quality of residential group care services offered to children, young people and their families or significant others.