Editor’s note [re special issue on 'Residential care: Last resort or positive choice? Lessons from around Europe']

Abstract

This special issue of the 'International Journal of Child and Family Welfare' reproduces some of the keynote presentations from a conference that was held at University of Wales Swansea on 17-18 September, 2001. The conference was entitled 'Residential Care: Last Resort or Positive Choice? Lessons from around Europe'. The event brought together leading commentators from various European countries and policy makers and practitioners from Wales and England. The conference was organised by Prof. Dr. Matthew Colton and colleagues at the University of Wales Swansea in association with officials from the National Assembly for Wales and the European Scientific Association for Residential and Foster Care (EUSARF). The conference was funded by the National Assembly for Wales and the opening speakers included the Minister for Health and Social Services of the National Assembly for Wales, Jane Hutt, and the Children's Commissioner for Wales, Peter Clarke. The office of the Children's Commissioner for Wales was established following a recommendation by the 'Waterhouse report' on the abuse of children and young people in care homes in North Wales (House of Commons, 2000). The purpose of the conference was to provide policy makers and practitioners in Wales with an opportunity to learn about encouraging developments in residential care in other European countries. The papers presented at the conference and included in this special issue explore residential care in Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Spain.