Research

Can the physical environment of residential children's homes make them feel more therapeutic? Recommendations from a rapid evidence assessment

Exploring the factors within the physical environment that may impact the quality of therapeutic care experienced by young people.
Access to nature and interaction with nature can have beneficial effects, particularly on individuals who are experiencing distress. Picture: Anna Tkach/Adobe Stock
Access to nature and interaction with nature can have beneficial effects, particularly on individuals who are experiencing distress. Picture: Anna Tkach/Adobe Stock

We are seeing increasing numbers of children entering the care system: in 2020, 13 per cent of this population were residing in residential care, secure units or semi-independent living environments.

Children who are looked after have disproportionate experiences of adversity and developmental trauma than their non looked-after peers. They have higher rates of mental health disorders compared with the general population, with the highest rates among young people in residential care according to 2021 data from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Young people who have experienced developmental trauma often present with attachment- or safety-seeking behaviours, which can be perceived as challenging by those who care for the young person, which can be a contributing factor to placement instability and subsequent breakdown (Turner et al., 2019).

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