Growing up in groups

On any day of the year more than 150,000 children are living away from home in groups: in children's homes, boarding schools, hospital units and a variety of other residential establishments.

Those who look after them for short or long periods of time: teachers, nurses, and child care staff, inevitably carry some parental responsibility.

This book discusses good practice in looking after these children and young people and asserts that there should be a strong core of common practice in all residential settings.

The purpose of the book is to raise standards of group care for all those who experience it.

It underpins Department of Health guidance on the Children Act 1989 and deals with the problems of adolescence and difficult and controversial issues as well as day-to-day practice.