Peer Violence in Children's Residential Care

Abstract

Children, Youth and Environments Vol. 15 No. 2 (2005) ISSN: 1546-2250 Peer Violence in Children’s Residential Care Barter, Christine and Renold, Emma and Berridge, David (2004). Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan; 249 pages. $75.00 (hard). ISBN 1403935599. The advent of this book is particularly timely as it coincides with the conclusion of a landmark British court case, thought to be the first involving peer abuse in a United Kingdom boarding school. In the book there is no statement about the intended audience but it can be presumed that it specifically includes not only practitioners but also researchers and administrators. It is potentially of general use for all those concerned with any aspect of residential and boarding education and care. The four authors are experienced researchers linked variously with Cardiff University, Luton University and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). While all have had long associations with research, none has been a practitioner. 443 The book describes the main results of a research program funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) under the Violence Research Programme. There are eight chapters and a conclusion. The inventory of summary points at the end of each chapter is of great value. There are also a detailed bibliography and three appendices of which Appendix A, “Researching Violence” and Appendix B, “Analysing the Data,” are relevant in assessing the research. Chapter One sets out the background to the program with a detailed discussion on violence, including abuse and bullying, and how these can be considered together if the focus is upon the overall impact. Residential child care is equated solely with children’s homes. This is perplexing in that there is also in this chapter a good survey of violence in other sectors including custodial care and boarding schools. The point is made that transfer of practice from non-residential settings such as schools can be dangerous but surely there is a very good case for transfer among different types of residential environment. Work was undertaken in 13 residential homes chosen to reflect the national balance between local authority, private and voluntary homes. Interviews were conducted with 71 children and young people and to these were added interviews with staff and observations by the researchers. Given these numbers, results must be taken as indicative rather than definitive of the state of violence in children’s homes. Most of the research involved semi-structured interviews but, in attempting to elicit the views of the young people, use was made of four vignettes. Of these vignettes, one was essentially discarded as it proved relatively incomprehensible to the young people. In summary, the research provides a privileged view inside a number of children’s homes and a unique focus upon peer violence. Chapter Two makes a distinction between high- and low-level violence and includes a good section on bullying. Following the discussion, the homes could be placed into one of three categories, according to the level of violence. This violence continuum provides the model for the research. In assessing 444 the homes, the main input was from interviews with the young people. The researchers also rated the homes but exactly how this was achieved is not mentioned. Appendix A sets out in detail the intentions of the research with regard to the young people and the potential emotional distress that might be occasioned during interviews. This is illustrated clearly in Chapter Three which provides a compelling look at the perspective of young people. Among a wide variety of interesting points, the distinction between micro- and macro-cultural codes is made. Also, highly relevant in all forms of residence for children is the section on the pecking order including insights into “positioning” and “acting out.” Useful distinctions are made in the field of physical violence between what are taken to be the masculine and the feminine approaches, while the subdivision of retaliation into spontaneous and planned provides material for thought. Many readers and practitioners will find the comments by staff in Chapter Four enlightening. The key factors in violence are set out as: (i) peer group; (ii) gender; (iii) race; (iv) age; and (v) background. For many staff the peer...