S.T.E.P.E.R.S. into the New Dispensation of Residential Childcare - A Principled Approach

The S.T.E.P.E.R.S. Model has emerged out of the organizational transformation exercise which began at SDCH in 2008.  Founded in 1871 and committed to the care and protection of socially displaced children and youth, SDCH was propelled into transformation mode by push-factors both external and internal to the organization; forces exerted by changes in legislation as well as the impact of societal changes upon a core institution - the family.

Externally, there were fundamental changes taking place in legislation pertaining to children, one piece of legislation in particular - the Children's Authority Bill - signalling  a shift within the field of childcare from unregulated to regulated practice; a system in which childcare providers  would need to be registered with the licensing body, the Children's Authority, in order to function.

Internally there was a growing sense of dissatisfaction with the negative outcomes being faced by so many  of our residents - signs of the organizations ineffectiveness in treating with the real needs of the children and young people committed to its care: the high incidence of children being taken before the court by the Home because of problem behaviours beyond our control; more and more children under-performing academically, more and more young people experiencing failed placements resulting in homelessness post-discharge.  As we studied our situation we recognized that a major shift had taken place around children's presenting situations and case histories: fewer and fewer were the stories of social displacement due to poverty and children being orphaned; more and more there were accounts of abuse, neglect and poor parenting.  Trauma and loss was now the recurring theme within the presenting stories of the children admitted to care at SDCH yet we were still using technology designed for children who were orphaned.

By 2013 the process of organizational transformation had brought us to the point where we were able to articulate the principles - seven in number - which were to shape the residential childcare practices of SDCH:

1. Strengths-based
2. Trauma/loss sensitive
3. Person-in-Environment
4. Permanency
5. Evidence-based
6. Results-oriented
7. Biopsycho-social Spiritual

Today, the organizational change and transformation process is well on its way as SDCH moves towards the full implementation of the S.T.E.P.E.R.S. Model by June 2016.