Conference presentation
Recognition and social capital practices as pathways to safety for young people in Therapeutic Residential Care
ISPCAN Congress (Melbourne, Australia, 24/08/2026–27/08/2026)
26/08/2026
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Abstract
Objectives: Feeling and being safe is foundational to young people’s wellbeing and development. Yet in therapeutic residential care (TRC) there is limited evidence on the specific practices that foster safety. This study aimed to: (1) examine self-reported multidimensional safety among young people in TRC in New South Wales (NSW), Australia; (2) assess their experiences of “recognitional practices” (care, respect, valuing) and social capital practices (opportunities to build and sustain connections); and (3) test whether perceived recognition mediates associations between these practices and safety.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was administered to 140 young people aged 12–18 years (M = 15.34, SD = 1.60) living in TRC in NSW. Measures included multi-dimensional safety items, items for recognitional practices and social capital practices within care settings, and perceived recognition (extent to which young people reported giving and receiving care, respect, and being valued). Guided by the theory of practice architectures (TPA), recognition theory, and social capital theory, we conducted several analyses to identify dimensions of safety, group comparisons across gender and sexual orientation, and mediation analyses to examine whether perceived recognition explained associations between recognitional/social capital practices and safety.
Results: On average, young people reported feeling safe however, 25% indicated compromised physical and emotional safety. Significant disparities emerged by gender and sexuality: girls/women/ females and queer young people reported lower safety than their peers. Exploratory analysis supported a two-factor structure of safety: “safe to be” and “safe to express”. Mediation analyses indicated that higher levels of recognitional and social capital practices were associated with greater perceived recognition, which in turn predicted higher levels of both “safe to be” and “safe to express.” These findings suggest that recognitional and social capital practices contribute to safety primarily through strengthening young people’s felt recognition within their care environments.
Conclusion: Safety in TRC is multidimensional, encompassing both being and expressing. While average safety was moderate to high, a substantial minority experienced compromised safety, with inequities for girls/women/females and queer young people. Recognitional and social capital practices appear to enhance safety by cultivating perceived recognition - young people feeling cared for, respected, and valued, and having opportunities to connect to family, community and culture. Embedding practices that focus on recognition and connection may improve safety outcomes in TRC.
Recommendations for Policy and Practice:
Create policies which enable structured, sustainable pathways for young people to build social capital by forming and maintaining connections (peer networks, mentoring, family/kin reconnection, community participation, cultural activities), with resourcing and continuity across placements.
•Train and support staff to consistently enact recognitional practices (e.g., authentic listening, shared decision-making, culturally safe engagement). Make these practices explicit in policies, supervision, and quality assurance.
•Implement gender- and sexuality-affirming safety plans, staff capability building, and monitoring to address the lower safety reported by girls/women/females and queer young people.
•Routinely assess young people’s perceived recognition and use feedback loops to adapt practices and environments to enhance both “safe to be” and “safe to express.”
Details
- Title
- Recognition and social capital practices as pathways to safety for young people in Therapeutic Residential Care
- Creators
- Lynne McPherson Prof - Southern Cross UniversityDonnah Anderson Dr - Charles Sturt UniversityJanise Mitchell - Australian Childhood FoundationAntonia Canosa Dr - Southern Cross UniversityEmeritus Prof Robbie Gilligan - Trinity College DublinKylie Day Dr - Southern Cross UniversityKathomi Gatwiri Professor - Flinders UniversityTim Moore A/Prof - Australian Catholic UniversityKelly Hand - Southern Cross University
- Conference
- ISPCAN Congress (Melbourne, Australia, 24/08/2026–27/08/2026)
- Identifiers
- 991013395346302368
- Academic Unit
- Centre for Children and Young People; Psychology and Social Health; Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples; Faculty of Health
- Resource Type
- Conference presentation