Context of residential care in the United Kingdom

Residential child care has changed significantly in recent decades. Across the
United Kingdom, numerous inquiries and official reports into failings have
informed both developments in residential care and public perceptions of the
residential task. The scale of investigation is vast and recurrent: in 2002, 32 of
the 43 police forces in England and Wales were conducting sex abuse inquiries
at care homes and schools (Johnston 2002). As a result, residential child care
has been constantly reviewed and various initiatives and structures put in place
to ensure high-quality care is delivered for children. While obviously similar,
specific incidents or needs have led to some unique developments in each of
the four nations in the United Kingdom. This chapter outlines the context of
current residential child care practice in each nation.