Other by Dr. Maurice M . Fenton
Relational Child and Youth Care Practice Journal - RCYCP, 2015
This article addresses some critical areas relating to care leaver’s transitions from residential... more This article addresses some critical areas relating to care leaver’s transitions from residential care. These include the connection between beginnings and endings as well as misconceptions around terminology. These include the usage of the term ‘independence’ for care leavers with interdependence being identified as more appropriate. The debilitating impact of loneliness is also explored. Transition processes with reference to Bridges Model of Transition (2004) and the misconceptions associated with the usage of the term ‘care leavers’ are considered within what are identified as residualised residential services. It is proposed that the term ‘care losers’ is more accurate for these children with ‘care seekers’ being identified as a more acceptable term.
The impact of stress on care seekers is identified where non-conforming behaviours are seen as symptoms of the overarching malaise of stress. This is further explored within an examination of Focal Theory together with the potential for healthy adolescent psychological development.
IJCYFS, 2019
This article is a reflective account of the process of a social care worker’s professional develo... more This article is a reflective account of the process of a social care worker’s professional development over a span of 28-years, primarily working within children’s residential care settings. It charts the author’s journey with regard to his ability to cope with anxiety (pain-based fear) and to live “on the edge” in his professional practice. The author’s personal experience as a young boy of the death of his father is identified as having caused pain-based behaviours for the author until such time as he faced the pain of this loss. The traumatic experience then became an asset in his direct work with children and young people in the role of a “wounded healer”. The article introduces the concept of “vicarious confidence” and its critical role in leadership and supervision. Self-care is discussed and the concept of “system-trauma” is identified. The article also discusses the role of magic in social care and links this to neuroscience and brain MRI images. The article highlights the positive role pain can play in enabling workers to connect empathically with hurt children and young people and posits that if we are to care authentically then we must be prepared to experience pain.
Papers by Dr. Maurice M . Fenton
The most protective and empowering factor is social care work is, in my opinion, beyond doubt the... more The most protective and empowering factor is social care work is, in my opinion, beyond doubt the worker themselves. Therefore, how workers make use of ‘self’ in their work is of critical importance. There are many aspects to the use of self and in this article, I intend to address vicarious processes inherent in the work with regards to two of these self-processes – the importance of self-awareness and self-care. I will then outline a model of Relationship-Based Self-Care which identifies three relationships the worker must engage with and manage to optimally promote their self-care. These relationships are with Self (S), Others (O), and the care System (S).
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Other by Dr. Maurice M . Fenton
The impact of stress on care seekers is identified where non-conforming behaviours are seen as symptoms of the overarching malaise of stress. This is further explored within an examination of Focal Theory together with the potential for healthy adolescent psychological development.
Papers by Dr. Maurice M . Fenton
The impact of stress on care seekers is identified where non-conforming behaviours are seen as symptoms of the overarching malaise of stress. This is further explored within an examination of Focal Theory together with the potential for healthy adolescent psychological development.