An exploration of the Wellsprings Residential Service - an evaluation of the residential staff approach towards helping young women

Lyng , Cian

An exploration of the Wellsprings Residential Service - an evaluation of the residential staff approach towards helping young women

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CianLyngCARLResearchreport2024.pdf(767.1 KB)

Published Version

Date

2024

Authors

Lyng , Cian

Publisher

Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork

Abstract

This study explores the Wellsprings residential service and its staff approach towards service delivery. Wellsprings is a charity organisation based in the heart of Cork city. Wellsprings consists of two services; a residential service and an outreach service. Wellsprings supports young women between the ages of 16-23 by providing short to medium term placements through its residential service, and offers outreach support to all the young women who come into its service. One previous research study (Morrissey, 2022) has been completed on the Wellsprings Outreach service, however there still remains a dearth of research on other areas of Wellsprings, such as the residential service. This study aims to explore the Wellsprings residential service and examine the staff approach towards helping the young women within Wellsprings. A social constructionist epistemological position was incorporated in the study, along with an ethics of care (Noddings, 1984) viewpoint to provide a theoretical lens to examine the research findings. This dissertation was completed as part of the UCC Community-Academic Research Links Initiative (CARL). Primary qualitative research was conducted in this research through one focus group containing members of the residential social care staff team and an interview consisting of a member of the Wellsprings residential management team. The common themes identified from the focus group include; Wellsprings Ethos and staff impact, Therapeutic Support, Relationships. Themes identified from the interview include; Wellsprings Ethos, Staff Culture, Care Environment and Location.

Keywords

Residential service , Outreach service

Citation

Lyng , C. (2024) An exploration of the Wellsprings Residential Service - an evaluation of the residential staff approach towards helping young women. Cork: Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork.