The residential treatment of an abusing family

Abstract

This article discusses the residential treatment of an abusing family in a local authority setting, when the use of short-stay children's homes was changed to provide a preventive service for families in trouble. The Centre has room to admit a family where the child's safety cannot be guaranteed in its own home.

The structure of the treatment programme is described, the partnership of residential and field work staff, the monitoring role provided by residential staff and the importance of supervision, particularly for those closely involved with the family. The role of the NAI Conference is discussed, and the individual functions of its members in relation to the family. The varied methods of working with the family are described, and the family's emotional response is illustrated with the theme of separation.

The article concludes that the family did respond to treatment, and that we have further to go in developing residential work with abusing families at our Centre.