Evaluation of the Social Pedagogy Pilot Programme in Residential Children’S Homes

Evaluation of the Social Pedagogy Pilot Programme in Residential Children’S Homes

Research Report DFE-RR148 Raising the bar? Evaluation of the Social Pedagogy Pilot Programme in residential children’s homes David Berridge Nina Biehal Eleanor Lutman Lorna Henry Manuel Palomares This research report was commissioned before the new UK Government took office on 11 May 2010. As a result the content may not reflect current Government policy and may make reference to the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) which has now been replaced by the Department for Education (DFE). The views expressed in this report are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department for Education. Contents List of tables............................................................................................................................ i Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................. iv 1. Introduction................................................................................................................... 1 Background.................................................................................................................... 1 Social pedagogy ............................................................................................................ 3 The Social Pedagogy Pilot Programme....................................................................... 10 Objectives of the evaluation......................................................................................... 11 2. Methods....................................................................................................................... 12 Research design.......................................................................................................... 12 Research questions..................................................................................................... 12 Sampling...................................................................................................................... 13 Process evaluation ...................................................................................................... 15 Outcome evaluation..................................................................................................... 19 Data analysis ............................................................................................................... 22 Ethical issues............................................................................................................... 22 3. Homes, staff and social pedagogues ....................................................................... 24 The homes................................................................................................................... 24 Length of time established........................................................................................... 25 Size.............................................................................................................................. 26 Services provided ........................................................................................................ 26 Staffing......................................................................................................................... 27 Characteristics and background of the residential staff ............................................... 30 Characteristics and background of the social pedagogues ......................................... 32 Conclusion................................................................................................................... 35 Summary points........................................................................................................... 36 4. The young people....................................................................................................... 38 Characteristics of the young people ............................................................................ 38 Care history ................................................................................................................. 41 The current placement................................................................................................. 46 Behavioural and emotional difficulties ......................................................................... 48 Family contact.............................................................................................................. 52 Education..................................................................................................................... 53 Young people attending the short-breaks/education units........................................... 57 Conclusion................................................................................................................... 58 Summary points........................................................................................................... 61 5. Interviews with senior managers .............................................................................. 63 Part 1 – Senior managers’ views at ‘Time 1’ ............................................................... 63 Reasons for becoming involved in the Pilot................................................................. 63 The homes before the Pilot.......................................................................................... 64 Introducing social pedagogy: initial experiences ......................................................... 65 Local experience of social pedagogy........................................................................... 74 Senior managers’ assessments of homes in the study ............................................... 77 Conclusion to Part 1 .................................................................................................... 79 Part 2 - Senior managers’ perceptions of the Pilot at ‘Time 2’ .................................... 80 The perceived impact of social pedagogy ................................................................... 80 The process of implementation.................................................................................... 87 Influences on the success of social pedagogy ............................................................ 90 Methods of implementation.......................................................................................... 96 Should social pedagogy be introduced into English children’s homes? ...................... 97 Costs.......................................................................................................................... 100 Conclusion................................................................................................................. 102 Summary points......................................................................................................... 103 6. Social pedagogues................................................................................................... 105 Experiences in England............................................................................................. 105 The role of a residential worker ................................................................................. 106 Social pedagogues’ approach ................................................................................... 110 Professional relationships.......................................................................................... 111 The Group 3 role........................................................................................................ 113 Support ...................................................................................................................... 114 Impact of the Pilot...................................................................................................... 116 Social pedagogy in England ...................................................................................... 118 Social pedagogues who left....................................................................................... 119 Conclusion................................................................................................................. 122 Summary points......................................................................................................... 124 7. Interviews with heads of homes.............................................................................. 125 The use of a social pedagogy approach in the homes .............................................. 125 The ‘fit’ of social pedagogy with the existing ‘ethos’ of the home .............................. 127 The process of implementing the Pilot....................................................................... 128 The role of SPs.......................................................................................................... 130 Costs.......................................................................................................................... 132 Impact of social pedagogy......................................................................................... 132 Success of the Pilot ................................................................................................... 136 Should social pedagogy be introduced into English residential children’s homes?... 136 Conclusion................................................................................................................. 137 Summary points........................................................................................................

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