In Residence

Working with children is important work, but we have to recognise that it can be quite difficult and demanding. As the manager of the assessment centre I used to work at put it, child care work is not for the faint hearted. Given how challenging the work can be, it is vitally important that staff … Read more

As more complex and troubled children and young people are routinely placed in care there has been much thinking about the types of model of caring that may work best for a routinely traumatised population. This has led to an increasing interest in what is often termed ‘therapeutic care’. This can lead to the term … Read more

As I was walking to the station yesterday evening two people were walking in front of me – a grown-up and a child. They were talking and strolling along. There was something special about their togetherness. The grown-up was clearly with and tuned-in to the child. Not wanting to eavesdrop on their conversation or to … Read more

This paper was an assignment for The Mulberry Bush Level 5 Foundation Degree in ‘therapeutic work with children and young people’, its full title was: With reference to relevant literature, in what ways do you consider play, whether formal or informal (or both) important to the development of the Children and Young People you work … Read more

In this edition of the Therapeutic Care Journal we take a look at the work of Leila Rendel, founder of the Caldecott Community. Mark Sevia opens the edition with a short piece on her life, and this is followed by her paper  ‘The child of misfortune’ a booklet written in 1952, in which she classifies … Read more

I have written before on the well-tried subject of the importance of a child “being held in a healthy mind”, but in the light of some sustained close observations over the past couple of years I now realise that a critical element of the theory underpinning what I wrote may need substantial revision.  What Goldfarb, … Read more

During the summer months of 2018 Ruth, my wife and I, travelled widely in the UK and Europe to visit and stay with members of the extended family of Mill Grove who were unable because of distance or circumstances to come and see us at home.  Not counting ferries and flights we covered 4,500 miles … Read more

THE PROJECT ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CHILD RECEPTION HOUSE IN PANGANI TOWN Project Area Overview Pangani District is one among oldest and least developed districts established since independence. It is located south of TANGA region extending from 5o 15.5S of the Equator to 6Os and from 38O 35E to 39O 00 East of Greenwich, … Read more

LEILA MARGARET RENDEL, OBE Visionary – Philanthropist – Pioneer 1882 -1969 Most biographies of Leila Rendel begin with the founding of a day nursery in 1911 which became The Caldecott Community. However, the years which preceded this were rich in personal life experience and led to Leila’s passionate interest in the welfare of children and … Read more

This edition of The TCJ offers the following articles: From Hungary, Edina Feckso-Pirisi and Nandor Grosch present a fascinating account of their work in Children’s Homes with the ‘Kids eye Public Art Association’; ‘A case study of a child filmmaker from a children’s home’  specifically their work with one young person Magdi (anonymised name). They … Read more

In The Handbook of Residential Care (Routledge 1993) I wrote a chapter called “Creating helpful organisation”. It covered buildings, furnishings and decoration, using money, boundaries, public and private space, kitchens, bathrooms and lavatories, food and catering, team and community meetings, supervision, staff support groups, training and development, rotas, routines and habits, smoking, and rituals and celebrations. … Read more

It was a very simple ceremony.  Family and friends had gathered outside the local church beside a rose-bush that was being planted, and then one by one they buried the ashes of their mother/grand-mother/sister/friend.  There were some embraces.  There were some tears.  The little children played, watched, and engaged from time to time like butterflies.  … Read more