In Residence

Save for the biblical parable of the prodigal son, who would reasonably expect and accept a parent to treat their two children so differently as to insist that for no good reason one must leave home at or before their eighteenth birthday whilst the other is made welcome to stay until they at least achieve … Read more

It was the end of lunchtime on Boxing Day at Mill Grove and there were just a few minutes before the traditional afternoon football match was due to begin outside.  I sat down beside a young man who had been enjoying his lunch on a table with fifteen others of all ages.  Although he and … Read more

This  paper was written for the Mulberry Bush Foundation Degree module on: Professional Issues in therapeutic Provision for Children and Young People. Full title: ‘Does mindfulness have a role to play in a psychotherapeutic community for children with complex needs’ ? Introduction There has been rapid growth in the number of organisations attempting to integrate mindfulness … Read more

Be there Be there All I need Is for you To Be there   Everyone goes Everyone’s gone Be there Be there All I need Is for you To Be there   Be there Till I can be there With you   I am here I am here I am Here   I have ( … Read more

Abstract: This article is an adaptation of an MA dissertation. There is a focus on the complex nature of sibling relationships and the importance of early experiences on the development of the child’s ability to negotiate the Oedipus complex and early peer relationships. Work discussion material will be drawn upon to give examples of looked … Read more

Before you come here You must know You must go   Right place right time To get you to show That you must go   How do you measure childhood fears? In weeks, months or years? There is time to go.   There will be no one else instead There will be an empty bed … Read more

I had planned to be with this particular person for over a month, and when I was with her ready to listen to what she wanted to share it began to dawn on me just how costly the conversation was for her. She told me through tears that in anticipation of it, she had not … Read more

Dear Colleagues, A warm welcome to our newest members: the Family Care Group, IDEM living (Merseyside), Hillcrest Steps (Oxon.), Right – Trak (Newcastle) and Valerie Packham, Independent Social Worker. The National Centre is the only free alliance committed to creating dialogue and sharing best practice and research across the residential and fostering sectors. 1.  Children’s … Read more

Feelings evoked from leading life story work with a child with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Before starting life story work, I was excited, as the child and I already had a good enough relationship. I found their ‘story’ intriguing and I was looking forward to helping the child make the links, that I thought, would … Read more

The residential community called Mill Grove began in 1899, seven years before John Bowlby was born, and over fifty years before the publication of his ground-breaking work, Maternal Care and Mental Health (WHO, 1951). For much of its history it has sought to care for children in need/at risk by creating a substitute family or … Read more

Paper presented at the conference, “Using high quality residential care to meet the real needs of children: from theory to practice”, on Monday 4th October 2010 at the Northern School of Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy, Leeds. John Whitwell was managing director of Integrated Services Programme (ISP) , and formerly principal of thee Cotswold Community. A brief … Read more

Paper given to the Portuguese Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists. 17th October 2008. Bom Dia. I am very pleased, and greatly honoured, to have the opportunity to address this gathering on the important subject being covered by the Conference – how, despite our best intentions and efforts, we adults can sometimes have a “disorganising”, and … Read more