ABSTRACT
At a time of potential for major change in residential care we seem to be stuck, frightened and frozen, apparently more concerned with stopping things happening than enabling them to happen. We know of the conscious and unconscious forces ranged against making positive changes. We have analysed the performance of organisations when engaged with people’s deep and urgent needs, and we know there will always be a tendency to eliminate risk and minimize pain and anxiety. However, current legislation and public policy provide opportunities for bold changes with which we could make a reality of ‘positive choice’ in residential care (NISW/HMSO 1988, The Wagner Report).
