TCTC W indsor Conference “Space House: An interactive m ethod for collecting the view s of children” Josie Thorne and Sarah Paget
W hat is a TC? • In 2002 Haigh and Worrall defined the TC as: “....a planned environm ent which exploits the therapeutic value of social and group processes . It promotes equitable and dem ocratic group-living in a varied, perm issive but safe environment. Interpersonal and emotional issues are openly discusse d and members can form trusting relationships . Mutual feedback helps members confront their problems and develop an awareness of interpersonal actions”
Mem bership of Com m unity of Com m unities 2 0 1 4 -2 0 1 5 88 members Children and Young people's communities 18% Addictions communities 45% 30% Adult communities Prison communities 6%
Hom es for Children and Young People • Increasingly placements are Children and Young people with significant em otional needs that underpin their behaviours, that is not always understood • Presenting behaviours include aggression, absconding, self harm, sexualised behaviours and other extreme risks that cause the most concern and anxiety for those who have to decide about their care planning • Multiple placem ents • Providers need to be clearer on what types of service they offer, for what types of need and how they will work with both the presenting behaviour ( containm ent ) and the underlying emotional needs ( treatm ent ). • Increasing difficulty with the term “therapeutic”
Aggregated Contextual Data 2 0 1 3 -2 0 1 4 * Average age of child/ young person on adm ission : 12 • • Average num ber of spaces : 11 • Average num ber of referrals to TCs: 86 • Average num ber adm itted: 5 • Average num ber of people leaving prem aturely: 1 • Average num ber of staff : 20 • Average length of em ploym ent in a TC: 5 years • Average staff turn over : 3 • Average number of recorded sick days: 63 * N= 2 5
Large residential special schools Smaller households with education and other services on site
Core and cluster models with smaller households sharing common centrally owned facilities as well as local community facilities
Annual Cycle
Feedback • Difficult to engage children and young people in the self-review • Children got bored on review • Children don't understand the questions • Can we have child friendly versions please • We try to make it fun
I nnovation born from netw orking • Commuting can have benefits • Mutual Support • Sharing ideas
Core Standards CS1 The community has leadership that functions in a way that is consistent with TC Core Values CS2 Community members are aware of the expectations of community membership Community members are encouraged to form a relationship with the community environment as well CS3 as with each other, as a significant part of community life CS4 Community members are involved in setting and maintaining community boundaries CS5 There is a structured programme of therapeutic opportunities CS6 All behaviour and emotional expression is open to discussion within the community CS7 Community members take part in the day to day running of the community CS8 Everything that happens in the community is treated as a learning opportunity CS9 Community members share responsibility for the emotional and physical safety of each other CS10 Community members are active in the personal development, care and/ or treatment of each other
SPACE HOUSE http://spacehouse.rcpsych.ac.uk/
Results
Pilot Test: Testing the acceptability of Space House
Aim : To establish the acceptability of Space House data collection tool to the end user in terms of: Its general approach The specific content of the version tested (e.g. stories used) Considerations: Age - the target age group is 7 – 10 years Gender Consent to participate was provided by each young person’s social worker Test Sites: Three small residential children's homes Participants: 13 Males aged 7 years – 15 years 1 Female aged 12 years
Method 1 : Observation Record any questions asked Record the length of time to complete Record how the young person got on with the exercise, e.g. signs of confusion/ boredom/ enjoyment Method 2 : Respondent Debriefing Ask each young person questions immediately after they have completed the tool Stage 3 : Staff feedback Once the young person has left the room, the staff member provides feedback on the young person’s engagement with the data collection tool
7 completed the whole story Average time to complete: 20 minutes Young Person Feedback: “It was ok. The last story could be longer. I liked an adult reading it out to me. It was better than how we did it before” (M, 8 years) “It was ok for a younger person to complete but it was a bit young for me” (M, 15 years) “The story is a bit too long and I didn't really like the pictures. Would be good but needs a better story. Better than before” (F , 12 years) “I liked the voice. I thought it was good” (M, 10 years) “I liked both [ being able to listen to the story and read the story] I liked it. Better than having the meetings” (M, 12 years)
Average engagement: 4 – quite engaged Staff comments on engagement: “[ He] was able to follow story and answer questions” (M, 8 years) “Asked questions about game/ story, discussed about it. Seemed more interested in the technical part of it (log in, password, how the info is saved, etc.)” (M, 8 years) “ME struggles to encage with things she is not interested in. ME finds it difficult to concentrate for a long period of time and would of found it easier just with the questions and not story. ME doesn't like reading very much and probably found it to difficult” (F , 12 years) “K enjoys reading and being read to” (M, 10 years) “D enjoys reading and loves books and stories. D can read, write and spell well so wouldn't of found this difficult.” (M, 12 years)
All the young people used the interactive elements of the game - Answering the questions - Clicking on the button to launch the rocket - Clicking on the rocket legs to add them to a Zar None of the young people asked any questions about the content of the story None of the young people asked about what any of the questions in the story meant Staff suggestions for improvement: To have a shorter story to keep the children engaged Some of the children with struggle to write answers so a version with just clicking will be better for the younger age group. Improvements: To include more interactive elements To reduce the length of text on the screen as this seemed to put some of the young people off To have a version with just the questions for older young people to use
W here next? • Pilot year 2014-2015 • Explore further developments • Publication in process
Josie Thorne jthorne@rcpsych.ac.uk Sarah Paget spaget@rcpsych.ac.uk www.communityofcommunities.org.uk www.enablingenvironments.com
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