PEER VIOLENCE IN CHILDREN'S RESIDENTIAL CARE; CHRISTINE BARTER...ET AL

Much concern has been expressed about the scandal of physical and sexual abuse by care workers of children living in residential homes but this is the first detailed study of the major problem of violence between children . Based on extensive interviews with young people as well as staff, children's own perspectives and experiences of violence are highlighted. There is important new information about different levels of violence between homes, the significance of gender and group hierarchies, and strategies to tackle violence. Much Concern Has Been Expressed About The Scandal Of Physical And Sexual Abuse By Care Workers Of Children Living In Residential Homes, But This Is The First Detailed Study Of The Major Problem Of Violence Between Children. Based On Extensive Interviews With Young People As Well As Staff, And Using A Sociological Approach, Peer Violence In Children's Residential Care Offers New And Important Insights About The Nature Of Peer Violence From Children's Own Perspectives And Experiences. Issues Young People Identified Included: The Significance Of Group Culture; The Damaging Nature Of Verbal Attacks; The Links Between Violence And Gender; As Well As The Hierarchical Nature Of The Group Or 'pecking Order'. Most Young People Trusted Staff To Protect Them Against Physical Violence From Peers. The Study Also Points To The Ways In Which Organisational Features Of Homes Are Associated With Different Levels And Types Of Violent Behaviour. The Authors Identify Strategies Whereby Peer Violence In Children's Residential Care Can Be Tackled.--book Jacket. Childhood, Peer Relationships And Peer Violence -- Mapping Peer Violence In Children's Homes -- Young People's Perspectives On Violence -- Staff Perspectives On Violence -- Shared And Different Understandings Of Violence -- Institutional And Organisational Factors Associated With Violence -- Evaluating Working Practices -- Responding To Violence : Methods Of Intervention. Christine Barter ... [et Al.]. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 235-247) And Index. Much concern has been expressed about the scandal of physical and sexual abuse by care workers of children living in residential homes, but this is the first detailed study of the major problem of violence between children. Based on extensive interviews with young people as well as staff, and using a sociological approach, Peer Violence in Children's Residential Care offers new and important insights about the nature of peer violence from children's own perspectives and experiences. Issues young people identitfied included: the significance of group culture; the damaging nature of verbal attacks; the links between violence and gender; as well as the hierarchical nature of the group or 'pecking order'. Most young people trusted staff to protect them against physical violence from peers. The study also points to the ways in which organisational features of homes are associated with different levels and types of violent behaviour. The authors identify strategies whereby peer violence in children's residential care can be tackled Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 List of Tables and Figures......Page 10 List of Vignettes......Page 11 Acknowledgements......Page 12 1 Childhood, Peer Relationships and Peer Violence......Page 14 2 Mapping Peer Violence in Children’s Homes......Page 42 3 Young People’s Perspectives on Violence......Page 72 4 Staff Perspectives on Violence......Page 92 5 Shared and Different Understandings of Violence......Page 117 6 Institutional and Organisational Factors Associated with Violence......Page 152 7 Evaluating Working Practices......Page 174 8 Responding to Violence – Methods of Intervention......Page 197 9 Conclusion......Page 216 Appendix A – Researching Violence......Page 242 Appendix B – Analysing the Data......Page 244 Appendix C – Sample Breakdown......Page 246 Bibliography......Page 248 Index......Page 261 The first detailed study of violence in residential homes between children, this book is based on extensive interviews with young people as well as staff & highlights children's own perspectives & experiences of violence