Imagine being a teenager, a time already fraught with self-discovery and emotional turmoil. Now, add the wrenching experience of being separated from your family and placed in a residential care facility.
This is a situation that many teenagers and young persons are faced with every year.
While residential care offers a safe haven from neglect, abuse, or complex family situations, it can also be a deeply disruptive experience. The separation can create a new set of hurdles for young persons.
For many teens and young persons in this situation, the key to navigating this challenging period and building a brighter future lies in a seemingly simple yet often complex element: family involvement.
How many children and young persons are in residential care in the UK?
Before we explore how family involvement is important for young persons in residential care, it’s important to understand the scope of the problem.
Statistics paint a sobering picture. According to the Department for Education over 80,000 children were in care in England alone in 2023, with an estimated 107,317 children in care across the UK. These young people come from various backgrounds, facing issues like:
- Abuse or neglect: This can be physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, or neglect of basic needs.
- Family breakdown: This could be due to parental separation, mental health issues, or substance abuse within the family.
- Complex behavioral problems: Sometimes, teens struggle with severe behavioral issues that require a structured environment and professional support.
Challenges faced by young persons in residential care
While residential care offers safety and support, it can also be a disruptive experience. Young persons may grapple with;
- Loss and grief: Leaving their families and familiar surroundings can be a major source of emotional distress.
- Identity issues: Separation from their families can make it difficult for teens to understand who they are and where they belong. Identity development, already a complex process, becomes even more challenging when a teen feels disconnected from their family history and support system.
- Difficulty forming relationships: Building trust and forming new relationships in a residential setting adds another layer of difficulty. These challenges can manifest in emotional withdrawal, behavioral problems, or struggles with self-esteem.
Why is family involvement important for teens in residential care?
Research shows that children and youth receiving mental health care experience significant improvements in emotional and behavioral regulation, as well as stronger relationships with both peers and adults, when their families are actively engaged in the treatment process.
Family involvement fosters a supportive environment where children can learn healthy coping mechanisms, build communication skills, and strengthen their sense of self.
- Improved relationships: Maintaining positive connections with family can help teens feel loved and supported.
- Better outcomes after care: Teens with involved families are more likely to maintain positive behavioral changes after leaving residential care.
- Strengthens family bonds: Working towards reunification or a future positive relationship can be beneficial for both the teen and the family.
Family involvement in UK residential care is a multifaceted issue with both challenges and opportunities. By recognizing its importance, creating supportive structures, and utilizing available resources, we can empower young persons in residential care to heal, maintain positive family connections, and build a brighter future.
Residential care: How can families be involved?
Family involvement in mental health care is crucial for a child or youth’s recovery. It creates a supportive network and strengthens the effectiveness of treatment. Here are some key ways families can be involved.
- Maintaining contact: Regular communication, whether through phone calls, letters, video chats, or supervised visits (for geographically distant or younger children), is essential for emotional well-being.
Maintaining regular contact shows ongoing love and support, even when physical proximity isn’t possible.
- Family therapy: Working with a therapist in a family setting allows families to address communication issues that may be contributing to the child or youth’s mental health struggles.
The therapist can help families rebuild trust, express themselves effectively, and develop healthy coping mechanisms to deal with challenges together.
- Family-centered care: This approach goes beyond simply informing families. It actively integrates them into the child or youth’s care plan. Families participate in discussions with mental health professionals, helping to set treatment goals, understand treatment options, and make informed decisions about their loved one’s care.
This collaborative approach fosters a sense of ownership and empowers families to be active participants in their loved one’s recovery journey.
In addition to these core types, family involvement can also encompass;
- Psychoeducation workshops: Educational workshops can equip families with knowledge about mental health conditions, their child’s specific diagnosis, and available treatment options. This empowers families to be better advocates for their loved one.
- Support groups: Connecting with other families facing similar challenges can provide valuable emotional support, shared experiences, and coping strategies.
By tailoring the type of family involvement to the specific needs of the child or youth and their family, mental health professionals can create a comprehensive and supportive treatment plan that fosters long-term well-being.
What challenges do families face when trying to get involved in residential care?
- Logistical hurdles: Distance, transportation issues, and work schedules can make consistent family involvement difficult. Residential care facilities can offer flexible visit schedules and support with travel arrangements.
- Parental capacity: Some parents may lack the skills or resources to provide adequate support. Programs offering parenting education and workshops can equip families with the tools they need.
- Trauma and abuse: In cases of abuse or neglect, careful planning and support are necessary. Trauma-informed therapy can help both the young person and family members deal with past experiences.
Additional considerations
- Cultural sensitivity: Family involvement approaches should be sensitive to different cultural backgrounds and family structures.
- The young person’s voice: Including the teen’s voice in decisions about family contact is crucial.
- Supporting siblings: Siblings of teens in residential care can also experience emotional difficulties. Sibling support groups can provide a safe space for them to connect.
When is family involvement not appropriate?
While family involvement is often crucial for a child or youth’s mental health journey, there are situations where it may not be the best course of action. Here are some key circumstances to consider.
- Severe abuse or neglect
If the child or youth has experienced severe physical, emotional, or sexual abuse by a family member, including a parent, sibling, or another close relative, further contact with the perpetrator could be retraumatising.
In these cases, the priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of the child. Therapists and social workers will work collaboratively to assess the situation and determine the safest approach, during and after residential care. This might involve alternative placements with trusted family members, foster care, or a permanent residential program.
- Domestic violence
If there is ongoing domestic violence within the home, involving the family can be risky. Witnessing or experiencing abuse can worsen the child or youth’s mental health struggles.
Therapists will likely prioritize individual therapy and safety planning, while potentially involving social services, if necessary.
- Severe parental mental illness
When a parent or guardian is struggling with their own severe mental illness, they might not be able to provide a stable and supportive environment for the child or youth.
Therapists may recommend individual or family therapy, but the focus might be on helping the parent manage their own mental health first, before actively involving them in the child’s treatment plan.
- Addiction and substance abuse issues
If a parent or guardian is struggling with substance abuse, their ability to provide effective support and follow through with treatment recommendations might be compromised.
In this circumstance, therapists may involve the family in specific ways, such as attending support groups or learning about addiction, but individual therapy for the child or youth might be prioritised initially.
- Extreme dysfunction
In some families, there might be a history of severe dysfunction, making healthy communication and collaboration difficult. Therapists will assess the situation and may recommend alternative support systems, such as mentors or extended family members, to be involved in the treatment plan.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to involve the family will be made on a case-by-case basis, considering the specific circumstances and the potential benefits and risks. Therapists will work closely with the child or youth, their family, and social services (if necessary) to determine the safest and most effective approach to support their mental health journey.
Final thoughts on the importance of family in residential care
Family involvement in residential care is indeed a complex issue. There are situations where prioritising a child or youth’s safety necessitates distancing them from their family.
However, research overwhelmingly shows that for many young persons in residential care, maintaining healthy family connections, when possible, is crucial for their emotional well-being and long-term success.
Here are some key takeaways to consider.
- Individualised approach: A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. The level and nature of family involvement should be tailored to each teen’s specific situation and needs. Therapists play a vital role in assessing the risks and benefits of family involvement and creating a safe and supportive plan.
- Focus on healing: Family therapy can be a powerful tool for families to address past hurts, rebuild trust, and learn healthy communication patterns. This can empower families to become a source of support and stability for the young person, even amidst challenges.
- Supporting families: Families caring for a child or youth with mental health struggles often face their own challenges. Residential care facilities and mental health professionals should provide support groups, psychoeducation workshops, and resources to help families cope and become effective advocates for their loved ones.
- Collaboration is key: Effective communication and collaboration between residential care staff, psychiatrists, therapists, social workers, and the family are essential. This ensures a unified approach that prioritises the young person’s well-being and fosters a smoother transition back into the community, whenever possible.
By acknowledging the complexities and prioritising healthy family connections whenever possible, we can empower teens in residential care to build a brighter future. Investing in family support systems not only benefits the teens but also strengthens families and communities as a whole.
