Michael Little – författare

This book was originally published in 1998, when over 6,000 children lived in residential homes in England and Wales. The fact that some children''s homes are better than others is well established, but why should this be so? Past answers have tended to be tautologous - rather on the lines of ''a good home is one where children do well; children do well because they are in a good home.''

This study examines various aspects of children''s homes and explores the connections between them in an attempt to break down the old circular argument. Structures are discernible in the relationship between different types of goals - societal, formal and belief; the variable balance between these goals determines staff cultures, which, in turn, shape the child cultures that develop. Such relationships are important because of their close association with outcomes - whether the children do well, whether the homes prosper. The model described in the book provides a conceptual framework and a set of causal relationships that should help professionals to plan and manage residential care better and so meet the needs of vulnerable children more effectively.

This book was originally published in 1998, when over 6,000 children lived in residential homes in England and Wales. The fact that some children''s homes are better than others is well established, but why should this be so? Past answers have tended to be tautologous - rather on the lines of ''a good home is one where children do well; children do well because they are in a good home.''

This study examines various aspects of children''s homes and explores the connections between them in an attempt to break down the old circular argument. Structures are discernible in the relationship between different types of goals - societal, formal and belief; the variable balance between these goals determines staff cultures, which, in turn, shape the child cultures that develop. Such relationships are important because of their close association with outcomes - whether the children do well, whether the homes prosper. The model described in the book provides a conceptual framework and a set of causal relationships that should help professionals to plan and manage residential care better and so meet the needs of vulnerable children more effectively.

First published in 1998, this volume focuses on increasingly important aspects of research activity by analysing the various development and dissemination projects undertaken at Dartington during the last 15 years, setting out the evidence for their success or failure and then suggesting a strategy for others who may wish to develop their work by similar means. It introduces researchers to the language of information design, designers to some of the complexities of scientific research and looks forward to a research climate in which new knowledge and new practice spring from the same solid theoretical ground.

Methods of disseminating the findings of social care research have changed radically in recent years, but little is known about the effects of the process on policy and practice. Professionals may have access to more information but do they understand it? Do they use it? Does it affect their practice?

First published in 1998, this volume focuses on increasingly important aspects of research activity by analysing the various development and dissemination projects undertaken at Dartington during the last 15 years, setting out the evidence for their success or failure and then suggesting a strategy for others who may wish to develop their work by similar means. It introduces researchers to the language of information design, designers to some of the complexities of scientific research and looks forward to a research climate in which new knowledge and new practice spring from the same solid theoretical ground.

Methods of disseminating the findings of social care research have changed radically in recent years, but little is known about the effects of the process on policy and practice. Professionals may have access to more information but do they understand it? Do they use it? Does it affect their practice?

First published in 1998, this volume recognises that, despite the plethora of benign welfare approaches to troubled and troublesome adolescents, a small proportion find themselves locked up. Who are they, why is it thought necessary to contain them and what effect does it have? This Dartington study tries to answer these questions by scrutinising the lives of 204 young people admitted to long-stay secure treatment units. It charts their experiences from their point of entry until two years after they leave. It also looks at equally difficult youngsters whose behaviour is dealt with in other ways. With such a varied group, it is difficult to be categorical about the value of security but, by employing a ''career'' perspective that takes account of the interaction between life routes and process, the relationship between young people’s background characteristics, treatment and subsequent experience becomes clear. In fact, the research found considerable predictability amid the apparent chaos, a feature that should help practitioners and managers to fashion more effective approaches.

First published in 1998, this volume recognises that, despite the plethora of benign welfare approaches to troubled and troublesome adolescents, a small proportion find themselves locked up. Who are they, why is it thought necessary to contain them and what effect does it have? This Dartington study tries to answer these questions by scrutinising the lives of 204 young people admitted to long-stay secure treatment units. It charts their experiences from their point of entry until two years after they leave. It also looks at equally difficult youngsters whose behaviour is dealt with in other ways. With such a varied group, it is difficult to be categorical about the value of security but, by employing a ''career'' perspective that takes account of the interaction between life routes and process, the relationship between young people’s background characteristics, treatment and subsequent experience becomes clear. In fact, the research found considerable predictability amid the apparent chaos, a feature that should help practitioners and managers to fashion more effective approaches.

First published in 1999, this volume examines how, in the middle of the nineteenth century, Dr John Snow is reputed to have wrenched the handle from a street pump in central London, forcing people in the neighbourhood to change their drinking habits and so preventing them from contracting cholera from the dirty water. Aspects of the story may be apocryphal, but the general drift of Snow''s assault on disease has enormous appeal for health, education, social services and police professionals working with children in need. Why spend so much time struggling to find strategies to cope with the more intractable problems among adolescents, when the problems might be prevented from occurring in the first place? This book tries to untangle some of the complex ideas that underpin effective prevention and early intervention activity on behalf of children experiencing social or psychological difficulty. It describes twenty programmes from Europe and America that have made an impact and where there has been an attempt to evaluate their usefulness. On this basis it suggests some principles for more effective preventive practice.

First published in 1999, this volume examines how, in the middle of the nineteenth century, Dr John Snow is reputed to have wrenched the handle from a street pump in central London, forcing people in the neighbourhood to change their drinking habits and so preventing them from contracting cholera from the dirty water. Aspects of the story may be apocryphal, but the general drift of Snow''s assault on disease has enormous appeal for health, education, social services and police professionals working with children in need. Why spend so much time struggling to find strategies to cope with the more intractable problems among adolescents, when the problems might be prevented from occurring in the first place? This book tries to untangle some of the complex ideas that underpin effective prevention and early intervention activity on behalf of children experiencing social or psychological difficulty. It describes twenty programmes from Europe and America that have made an impact and where there has been an attempt to evaluate their usefulness. On this basis it suggests some principles for more effective preventive practice.

First published in 1998, this Darlington child care study looks at the return experiences of children looked after by local authorities. It shows that although the great majority of children go back to their families and home communities, little is known about the process. How can professionals and carers make the transition as easy as possible? The book takes forward ideas first reported in the Dartmouth publication, going home: The return of children separated from their families and tested in subsequent research. It charts patterns of separation and return, considers the experiences of those involved and highlights factors associated with the likelihood of return and its success. Because the factors described in the earlier research have since been confirmed in a blind prospective study they are among the most robust indicators available.

First published in 1998, this Darlington child care study looks at the return experiences of children looked after by local authorities. It shows that although the great majority of children go back to their families and home communities, little is known about the process. How can professionals and carers make the transition as easy as possible? The book takes forward ideas first reported in the Dartmouth publication, going home: The return of children separated from their families and tested in subsequent research. It charts patterns of separation and return, considers the experiences of those involved and highlights factors associated with the likelihood of return and its success. Because the factors described in the earlier research have since been confirmed in a blind prospective study they are among the most robust indicators available.