4. Views of residential child care

Positive and negative views

Some see residential child care in positive ways, others in negative ways, and some will see a mixture of both.

Read a selection of views below.

Do any of these match your own?

Some see residential child care in positive ways, as: providing stability and a stimulating environment widening cultural and educational horizons creating a framework for emotionally secure relationships with adults providing a setting for intensive therapeutic work providing an opportunity to share experiences with other young people.
Some may see residential child care in negative ways: There can be difficulties in providing unconditional love, which can affect children's emotional development. Poor staff continuity can affect how children bond to a carer. Care can become institutionalised if routines are not based around the needs of young people. It can lead to marginalisation of children's families and other welfare services.