Day-to-day decisions : do children in residential care have a voice about such matters?

Abstract

This dissertation addresses the central yet often overlooked issue of children's autonomy and decision-making in the context of residential care. Despite progress in understanding and addressing the needs of children in care, the fundamental question of whether these children have the capacity and opportunities to make everyday decisions remains largely unanswered. The main aim of this study is to investigate the participation of children in care in decisions that affect their daily lives and to assess the level of support and empowerment they receive to participate in such decision-making processes. The study takes a child-centred approach and uses qualitative data collection methods to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the life experiences of all participating children. Data collection was conducted qualitatively in two phases: firstly, through a focus group discussion in which the children highlighted areas requiring further investigation, and then through individual one-to one interviews conducted by the researcher with six children living in residential care, focusing on the themes identified in the first phase. This study concluded that most of the decisions taken in Residential Homes related to the day-to-day aspects of the children’s lives are mostly made by adults with very little participation from the children themselves. This study also highlights the fact that when children are invited and encouraged to participate in decision-making processes, the outcome is a very positive one where children are more accepting of certain rules and more accountable for their behaviours.