Pași către schimbare: Crearea unui mediu de schimbare în munca
Step changes: creating an environment for change in working with families in a residential adolescent services institution

Summary/Abstract: This paper describes some of the key issues related to organisational and professional change within a residential childcare institution that provides a service for young people from the age of thirteen to twenty years old. This is the largest residential childcare institution in the whole of northern Norway. In order for change to occur at the level of professional practice, culture change needed to take place in order to support changes in the provision of a professional service to young people. Culture, the ‘glue’ which holds an institution together, will when challenged create stress, so that for change to be possible, it needs to take place in a planned way. The five phases are described in this paper, along with reflections on the impact and the methods employed. Not only were internal resources used, but also outsiders had a role to play. It was important to be clear about the difference between the ‘political will’ and ‘professional service’, and to see them as two integral aspects of a necessary whole. At the end of the paper are some reflections on the difficulties encountered, the learning points so far, and the challenges for now and for the future. Many of the issues faced in Northern Norway in child-care institutions were very similar to Romania. The professional system described had become abusive for staff and client alike.

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