Consultancy to a Care Home: The Influences of Family and Gender Roles, and of Race and Colonialism

Abstract

This paper is an account and critical analysis of the psychodynamic and systemic consultancy that the author provided to a care home (and the voluntary organisation running it) over a period of about 16 months. In addition two emergent, linked themes are identified and discussed: family and gender roles in care homes, and racism and colonialism. Care homes are of course part of the society in which they exist and of which they are a product. This means that all the overt and covert psychological and social pressures, defences and trends that occur in the wider society, for individuals, families, groups and communities are also to be found in care homes and in the organisations that run them. They are not isolated from these forces, indeed, it is argued in this paper, the forces are intensified in the ‘hot house’ environment of a care home and, if ignored, avoided and denied, result in the exploitation, abuse and neglect of both staff and residents.

Keywords::

• care homes
• organisational consultancy
• gender roles
• race
• colonialism
• management

Notes

¹ After much disruption, several further changes of manager, serious instances of neglect of residents, warnings from the regulator and a drastic drop in the number of residents, the committee decided to sack the CEO and hand over the building to a larger voluntary organisation which is now attempting to rebuild the reputation of the home. We shall see.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

John Burton

John Burton is an independent social care consultant specialising in the management and practice in care homes (for all ages). Starting his career in the mid-1960s, he has been a care worker, manager of several care homes, inspector, trainer, writer, group worker, supervisor, consultant and head of a voluntary organisation running care homes. John is also a volunteer advocate for residents and their relatives. His training and qualifications include a diploma in counselling and a master's degree in public policy, advanced training in residential social work at Bristol University and in consultation at the Tavistock Clinic, and he is a Fellow of the School for Social Entrepreneurs. John is the author of several books and many chapters in edited books, and he writes regularly for the social work press and journals. Address: Standards for Practice, 4 The Weeches, Washfield, Tiverton, Devon EX16 9RA, UK. [Email: [email protected]]