Short term care, both residential and family based, remains a cornerstone of family
support services for children with learning disabilities. Despite this, research findings
from Maureen Oswin's work to present suggest that short term care services are
primarily oriented to the support needs of families and carers, rather than to the
emotional security of the child.
Drawing on recent observational studies of short term care facilities, and on
work undertaken within the Children's Society's Western Corner Project, the
author argues that psychodynamic approaches can both illuminate the experience
of the child in the residential short term care setting, and suggest patterns of
service that can enhance the well-being of the child.
Influenced by the therapeutic tradition within residential child care, the author
proposes that careful attention to the building of therapeutic relationships in the
context of everyday events such as meals, intimate personal care, individualized
play activities and settling to sleep, can make a contribution to the personal growth
of the child.
The paper, originally prepared during a period of study at the Tavistock Clinic,
concludes by considering some of the implications for staff deployment and
development that follow from the adoption of such an approach.
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