Male young persons leaving residential care : needs and perceptions

Abstract

Being in a residential home is one type of care given to children and young people who for various reasons are unable to live in their natural homes. Like every adolescent, youngsters in residential care have common needs for love and care, food and shelter. It is also essential that they be provided with the necessary training and support to acquire the necessary skills, attitudes and experiences considered essential to live as independent adults. In this field research, nine structured interviews with seven residents and two former residents, of a residential home for boys, were conducted. The primary aim was to discover and bring to light the problems young people in residential care perceive and encounter in their transition period towards adulthood. The findings indicated several shortcomings and the respondents perceived a number of needs that have to be met in order to live as self-sufficient adults after leaving the protection of their residential home. Recommendations are put forward for the Home to provide services and prepare and support its residents for a successful transition to independent living.