New publication: "HANDlungsBUCH für die stationären Erziehungshilfen"

FICE Austria has developed a comprehensive reference book: The "HANDlungsBUCH für die stationären Erziehungshilfen - Volume I", which describes the central tasks and fields of action of inpatient child and youth welfare in a compact, practical and technically sound manner. It is aimed primarily at professionals and facility operators, training centres, but of course also at supervisory authorities and politicians.

"In the federal system, different rules apply in each federal state. The book is intended to contribute to uniform training and quality standards. 30 organisations were involved," says author Monika Lengauer.

Until now, there has been no overview of child and youth welfare in Austria. The 600-page "HANDlungsBUCH" offers a compact introduction to selected theoretical principles as well as central topics and fields of action of socio-pedagogical process organisation in the context of residential educational support. Although concepts and specialist discussions from all German-speaking countries are included, there is a clear focus on the specific framework conditions in Austria. The aim of the book is to support professionals and institutions in the further development of their practice by systematically describing the field of action, its areas of responsibility and challenges. Due to the thematic complexity, a second volume of the HANDlungsBUCH will be published in 2027.

Practical examples based on a model residential group

Experts from the field contributed case studies, which were then incorporated into the theoretical chapters of the book. The most extensive part of the book highlights different situations, which are described using a fictitious model residential group. Author Lengauer: "It is not a single child that serves as a case study, but an entire fictitious residential group. This is an exciting approach because it sheds light on all the dynamics between the child and the team, the team and external parties, as well as within the team."

In one chapter, the children and young people who live in the fictitious group are described with brief biographies, as are the members of the team. The following chapters on the individual topics always refer to this model residential group. There are also reading and film tips, explanations of terms, digressions and questions for reflection.

The central starting premises of the book are:

• The importance of reflexivity for professional behaviour
• Theory/practical relevance
• Learning through challenges in one's own practice
• Central point of reference: children's rights
• Understanding of development as the child's/young person's own contribution

The book has more than 600 pages - and this is only Volume I. But the chapters are self-contained, so you don't have to read the whole book from cover to cover at once. It is therefore ideal for use in training programmes as well as in team meetings and further training.

FICE Austria (ed.): HANDlungsBUCH für die stationäre Kinder- und Jugendhilfe, Band I: Theoretische und rechtliche Grundlagen, Fallverstehen und sozialpädagogische Prozessgestaltung. 664 pages, 55 euros, Verlag Plöchl, ISBN 978-3-903093-97-3. order: bestellung(at)fice.at or office(at)fice.at