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BJSW Advance Access published online on March 11, 2008
British Journal of Social Work, doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcn013
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© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers. All rights reserved

Management, Leadership and Resources in Children's Homes: What Influences Outcomes in Residential Child-Care Settings?

Leslie Hicks, Ian Gibbs, Helen Weatherly and Sarah Byford

Correspondence to Leslie Hicks, Social Work Research and Development Unit, Alcuin College, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD. Email: slh8{at}york.ac.uk


  Abstract

This article provides an overview of research, originally funded by the Department of Health, about the internal management and use of resources in residential child care. It explores ways in which children's homes are managed and leadership is established and the relationship of these to their use of resources and the outcomes for young people in their care. The paper examines variations in the functioning of a sample of 45 non-specialist children's homes drawn from local authority and independent sectors in England. Utilising both qualitative and quantitative analyses including an economics component, the functional relationships of structures, processes, resources and service user outcomes are investigated. The results of multi-level modelling analysis, used to draw together the different strands of the research, are discussed. Main findings indicate that the influence which the process of providing care has on the kind of outcomes experienced by young people is of paramount importance. The paper relates findings to areas for development in practice and its management, specifically in terms of training and policy arenas.

Keywords: Residential child care, leadership and management, social care outcomes, economic evaluation, multi-level modelling

Leslie Hicks is a Research Fellow and Ian Gibbs is Research Consultant in the Social Work Research and Development Unit. Their interests are in the field of services for children, child protection and well-being, social exclusion and organizational dynamics. Helen Weatherly is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Health Economics. Both research units are at the University of York. Sarah Byford is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry. Helen and Sarah have interests in the economic evaluation of health and social care.


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