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Containment and holding environments: Understanding and reducing physical restraint in residential child care

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  • Steckley, Laura

Abstract

There have long been concerns about physical restraint in residential child care and much of the surrounding discussion is negative. Yet in a recent in-depth Scottish study exploring the views of those most directly affected by physical restraint--children, young people and staff--a more complex and nuanced picture emerges. Much of what the 78 study participants said about their experiences can be understood through the theoretical lenses of containment and holding environments. Such an understanding can potentially reduce, and where possible eliminate, the need for physical restraint and can increase the likelihood that when restraints do occur, they are experienced as acts of caring. For this to be possible, both direct practice (between staff and young people), and indirect practice (the ways that staff are supported to work with young people) must be containing. This paper starts by discussing the complex context in which physical restraints in residential child care in Scotland occur and then reviews concepts of therapeutic containment and holding environments. The findings of the study are then theorized in relation to containment and holding environments, across identified themes of control, touch, relationships and organisational holding. Implications for practice are offered in conclusion.

Suggested Citation

  • Steckley, Laura, 2010. "Containment and holding environments: Understanding and reducing physical restraint in residential child care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 120-128, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:32:y:2010:i:1:p:120-128
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    Cited by:

    1. Braun, Michael T. & Adams, Nicole B. & O'Grady, Courtney E. & Miller, Deserai L. & Bystrinski, Jonathan, 2020. "An exploration of youth physically restrained in mental health residential treatment centers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    2. Shechory Bitton, Mally & Rajpurkar, Sarit, 2015. "Therapeutic crisis intervention system in residential care for children and youth: Staff knowledge, attitudes, and coping styles," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 1-6.
    3. Lindqvist, Erik, 2011. "Planned treatment and outcomes in residential youth care: Evidence from Sweden," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 21-27, January.
    4. Mary Elizabeth Rauktis & Margarida Rangel Henriques & Maria Acciaiuoli Barbosa‐Ducharne & Orlanda Cruz & Marina S. Lemos & Julia Lee, 2020. "Measuring the restrictiveness of Portuguese residential care for children and youth," International Journal of Social Welfare, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(3), pages 233-243, July.

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