This presentation will demonstrate Jo’s Therapeutic Residential Care’s practical application of family work and transitions in care.   

Children and young people in residential care frequently report a lack of contact with their families throughout their care experience. Research indicates that, while safety concerns related to previous abuse and neglect in the family home are paramount, maintaining connections with parents, siblings, and extended family members is vital for a child's overall development (AIFS, 2020; O'Neill et al., 2018). These familial relationships are fundamental to fostering a sense of identity, belonging, and emotional well-being (McGhee et al., 2021).

At Jo’s Therapeutic Residential Care Program, our service model and practice framework prioritises family engagement as an integral component of our care approach. By actively promoting family connections, we aim to facilitate healing and enhance the well-being of the children and young people in our care. Where safe to do so, this is primarily with the biological parents, but also extended family, grandparents, siblings and cultural connections.  

Moreover, transitions in care—such as moving to a new house—can be particularly traumatic for children and young people in out-of-home care, regardless of whether it is their first or they have had multiple placements. These transitions often result in additional trauma, grief, loss, and disrupted relationships (Woods & Houghton, 2019). To reduce additional trauma, Jo’s model employs a planned approach to transitions, focusing on the emotional needs and experiences of both the incoming child or young person and those already residing in the home. This approach reduces anxieties, fosters ongoing relationships and maintains stability in other areas of their lives (Pettigrew et al., 2020).