An evaluation of therapeutic Life Story Work in residential out of home care

Objective

Research into therapeutic approaches for children in residential out-of-home-care (OOHC) is critical given the paucity of effective interventions in the literature. Health and social care settings claim Therapeutic Life Story Work (TLSW) has therapeutic benefits to individuals who have experience repeated trauma. This paper explores the effectiveness of TLSW with children in residential OOHC.

Method

A total of 46 children (1.5 % of the Australian cohort) and their Keyworkers participated in this study, comprising an Intervention Group (n = 23) and Comparison Group (n = 23). Baseline measures of resilience, behavioural and emotional states were repeated at completion of the intervention.

Results

A clear trend towards significance was evident (p = 0.055) in improved pro-social skills (SDQ) in the Intervention Group as observed by residential Keyworkers. This suggests an increase in children’s consideration of other’s feelings, sharing, supporting others in distress, kindness to younger children, and offering to help out. Moreover, clinical cut-off scores for emotional and behavioural issues found the Intervention Group were 5 % more likely to achieve a reduction in Emotional, Peer, and Conduct problems, as well as Hyperactivity, and 24 % more likely to increase Prosocial skills. They also appeared to tolerate the TLSW well, with no participant dropout.

Conclusion

These findings suggest the constructs of TLSW enables children in residential OOHC, often described as treatment resistant, participate in this intervention. Given the need for greater collaboration between government, researchers and practitioners, in the development of efficacious interventions for this cohort, research learnings are provided for future evaluations into the effectiveness of this intervention.