Re-Designing Secure Children’s Homes Through a Child-First Lens

Andow, Caroline, Kleipoedszus, Stefan, Dunn, Rachel, Wake, Nicola, Arthur, Raymond, Shafi, Adeela ORCID: 0000-0002-6265-5024 and Gibson, David (2024) Re-Designing Secure Children’s Homes Through a Child-First Lens. Societies, 14 (11). p. 217. doi:10.3390/soc14110217

[img]
Preview
Text
14488 Andow et al (2024) Re-Designing Secure Children's Homes.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

This article explores existing learning gaps concerning optimal ways to support children within and beyond secure care in England and Wales, with a specific focus on Secure Children’s Homes (SCHs). Insights from key stakeholders working in SCHs are often omitted from research despite being fundamental to understanding both challenges and best-practice initiatives. The Children’s Residential Care Research Network, which is a collaboration between the authors, aims to develop novel research with stakeholders working across the secure children’s estate and expand the extant literature to inform the design and build of future Secure Children’s Homes (SCH) through a Child-First lens. The research presented here involves a mixed-methods approach gathering rich qualitative data from participants across the sector. Fifty-three participants engaged in participatory methodologies, focus groups, and interviews, which led to a large data set. Thematic analysis identified three key themes to inform the design and build of new SCHs. SCHs should (i) be close to home to enable family involvement and continuity of care, (ii) feel like a home, and (iii) be flexible and adaptive to changing needs. These findings are feeding into the design of two new homes in England as well as the refurbishment of existing provision and can also influence future expansion of the secure estate. The research also contributes to knowledge about how the Child-First tenets can be engaged to improve outcomes for children deprived of their liberty, both in and outside the youth justice system.

Item Type: Article
Article Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Child-First; Deprivation of liberty; Design and build; Secure Children’s Homes; Thematic analysis
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology.
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology. > HV40-69 Social Work
Divisions: Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Depositing User: Charlotte Crutchlow
Date Deposited: 29 Oct 2024 11:25
Last Modified: 29 Oct 2024 11:30
URI: https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/14488

University Staff: Request a correction | Repository Editors: Update this record

University Of Gloucestershire

Bookmark and Share

Find Us On Social Media:

Social Media Icons Facebook Twitter Google+ YouTube Pinterest Linkedin

Other University Web Sites

University of Gloucestershire, The Park, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 2RH. Telephone +44 (0)844 8010001.