IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v112y2020ics0190740919306243.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Threshold concepts in residential child care: Part 1, the selves of learners and their praxis

Author

Listed:
  • Steckley, Laura

Abstract

Despite growing international consensus around the complex and demanding nature of residential child care for children and young people, consensus is lacking around how to develop a workforce equal to the task. Threshold concept theory casts a light on related issues of training and education, and offers direction in addressing them. Threshold concepts are central concepts in a given discipline which are transformative but troublesome for many. They are important to their given discipline because they shape thinking and practice, but they are often difficult to master. This first of a two-part paper discusses the first of a two-stage, transatlantic study aimed at identifying and exploring threshold concepts in residential child care. Using focus groups and individual interviews with participants who had studied, practiced and/or taught in the UK, Canada or the US, it explored the views and experiences of educators who have contributed to knowledge production in the field, as well as front-line practitioners who have completed a dedicated course in child and youth care, residential child care or therapeutic child care. Findings included unanimous agreement about the relevance of threshold concept theory to their experiences, and strong support for its utility in considering how curricula should be taught. There was a greater degree of commonality than divergence between educator and practitioner views about what might be threshold, with relational practice the most prominently discussed. A theme around the self of the learner was identified in discussions of threshold concept theory more generally, particularly across the educator focus groups. Implications for pedagogical practice are discussed, including the concept of praxis which provides a useful counterpoint for conceptualising the relationship between threshold concept theory and the use of self in practice, especially in fields where the self is a primary instrument of the work.

Suggested Citation

  • Steckley, Laura, 2020. "Threshold concepts in residential child care: Part 1, the selves of learners and their praxis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:112:y:2020:i:c:s0190740919306243
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104594
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740919306243
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104594?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Knorth, Erik J. & Harder, Annemiek T. & Zandberg, Tjalling & Kendrick, Andrew J., 2008. "Under one roof: A review and selective meta-analysis on the outcomes of residential child and youth care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 123-140, February.
    2. Sinclair, Ian & Gibbs, Ian, 1999. "Measuring the turbulence of English Children's Homes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 57-74, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Portwood, Sharon G. & Boyd, Suzanne A. & Nelson, Ellissa Brooks & Murdock, Tamera B. & Hamilton, Jessica & Miller, Angela D., 2018. "A comparison of outcomes for children and youth in foster and residential group care across agencies," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 19-25.
    2. Levrouw, Delphine & Devlieghere, Jochen & Vandevelde, Stijn & Roose, Rudi, 2020. "Developing a positive living climate in residential youth care: a qualitative study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    3. Indias, Sílvia & Arruabarrena, Ignacia & De Paúl, Joaquín, 2019. "Child maltreatment, sexual and peer victimization experiences among adolescents in residential care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 267-273.
    4. Sevilir, R. & van der Helm, G.H.P. & Roest, J.J. & Beld, M.H.M. & Didden, R., 2020. "Differences in perceived living group climate between youth with a Turkish/Moroccan and native Dutch background in residential youth care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    5. Graça, João & Calheiros, Maria Manuela & Patrício, Joana Nunes & Magalhães, Eunice Vieira, 2018. "Emergency residential care settings: A model for service assessment and design," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 89-101.
    6. Sim, Faye & Li, Dongdong & Chu, Chi Meng, 2016. "The moderating effect between strengths and placement on children's needs in out-of-home care: A follow-up study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 101-108.
    7. Harder, Annemiek T. & Mann-Feder, Varda & Oterholm, Inger & Refaeli, Tehila, 2020. "Supporting transitions to adulthood for youth leaving care: Consensus based principles," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    8. Côté, Carole & Clément, Marie-Ève, 2022. "Let’s talk about love: Perceptions of children in residential care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    9. Yeheskel, Ariel & Jekielek, Adam & Sandor, Paul, 2020. "Taking up residence: A review of outcome studies examining residential treatment for youth with serious emotional and behavioural disorders," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    10. Moore, Tim & McArthur, Morag & Death, Jodi & Tilbury, Clare & Roche, Steven, 2017. "Young people's views on safety and preventing abuse and harm in residential care: “It's got to be better than home”," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 212-219.
    11. Gallagher, Bernard & Green, Adam, 2012. "In, out and after care: Young adults' views on their lives, as children, in a therapeutic residential establishment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 437-450.
    12. Rosenthal, James A. & Villegas, Susy, 2010. "Living situation and placement change and children's behavior," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(12), pages 1648-1655, December.
    13. Winsor, Tahlia & McLean, Sara, 2016. "Residential group care workers' recognition of depression: Assessment of mental health literacy using clinical vignettes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 132-138.
    14. Souverein, F.A. & Van der Helm, G.H.P. & Stams, G.J.J.M., 2013. "‘Nothing works’ in secure residential youth care?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 1941-1945.
    15. Eenshuistra, Annika & Harder, Annemiek T. & Knorth, Erik J., 2019. "One size does not fit all: A systematic review of training outcomes on residential youth care professionals' skills," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 135-147.
    16. Mathys, Cécile, 2017. "Effective components of interventions in juvenile justice facilities: How to take care of delinquent youths?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 319-327.
    17. Castro, Emma & Magalhães, Eunice & del Valle, Jorge Fernández, 2023. "A systematic review of non-specific and specific treatment factors associated with lower or greater internalising and externalising symptoms in therapeutic residential care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    18. Soenen, Bram & D'Oosterlinck, Franky & Broekaert, Eric, 2014. "Implementing evidence-supported methods in residential care and special education: A process-model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 155-162.
    19. Kang, Hyunah & Chung, Ick-Joong & Chun, JongSerl & Nho, Choong Rai & Woo, Seokjin, 2014. "The outcomes of foster care in South Korea ten years after its foundation: A comparison with institutional care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 135-143.
    20. Bastiaanssen, Inge L.W. & Delsing, Marc J.M.H. & Kroes, Gert & Engels, Rutger C.M.E. & Veerman, Jan W., 2014. "Group care worker interventions and child problem behavior in residential youth care: Course and bidirectional associations," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 48-56.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:112:y:2020:i:c:s0190740919306243. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.