December 15th,  2015 : Issue 18 of the goodenoughcaring Journal,  is now online. We hope you find things in it which interest you.

Elaine Arnold writes about the importance of considering attachment theory for the support of those who have become separated from their families, Denise Carroll and Mark Smith tell of recent research into the co-working of mental health and residential care workers, Cynthia Cross  writes about defensiveness in adults who look after children, Maurice Fenton writes about his underlying reasons for writing his latest book, Justin Frost reviews Ken Loach’s classic film Family Life, Alex Russon writes about David, John Stein reconsiders the potential of a points system in group work with young people, Patrick Tomlinson explores the significance of Empathy in communication with troubled children, John Whitwell provides an account of the therapeutic community approach, Nigel Wilson thinks about statements of purpose in children’s homes and Charles Sharpe reviews Maurice Fenton’s book Social Care and Child Welfare in Ireland Integrating Residential Care, Leaving Care and Aftercare. This issue’s editorial is More for less or more and better.

The next issue of the goodenoughcaring Journal will published on June 15th, 2016.

It’s on its way. The goodenoughcaring special (aka goodenoughcaring Journal 18) is approaching your station, and  if you look  up the rail track you can just about see her coming round the bend you can  just begin to the see the passengers and their paraphernalia.

Elaine Arnold writes about separation, loss, attachment and reunion issues, Denise Carroll and Mark Smith consider recent research about residential care workers and mental health professionals working together, as ever Cynthia Cross talks sense, this time about adult defensiveness ,   Alex Russon reflects on his volunteer work with David, a man with  addictions problems and suggests the childhood events which may have led to them, Maurice Fenton writes about the feelings stirred while writing his new book, John Stein challenges us to think again about the positives of points systems,  Justin Frost reviews Ken Loach’s classic 1971 film Family Life, Patrick Tomlinson reflects on aspects of empathy, John Whitwell answers the question,”Why a therapeutic community?”, Nigel Wilson ponders upon the statement of purpose of children’s home and Charles Sharpe reviews Maurice Fenton’s new  book Social Care and Child Welfare in Ireland .   Of course we  may still pick up a few freight hoppers on the way.

See you at the station, high noon December 15th, 2016. Any day now any way now , we shall be released.

That  good friend of Thomas the Tank Engine the  special No. 18-15-12 is comin’ down the line.

Arriving at your station on December 15th  Issue 18 of the goodenoughcaring Journal is coming’ down the line and we’re hopin’ it’ll be right on time : high noon, December 15th. The list of passengers so far bearing their articles of luggage are, Elaine Arnold, Denise Carroll, Cynthia Cross, Maurice Fenton, Justin Frost, Alex Russon, Mark Smith, John Stein, Patrick Tomlinson, John Whitwell, Nigel Wilson and Charles Sharpe.

More news soon, choo choo !

There can be little doubt that more innocent members of Syrian families will be injured, maimed and killed if tomorrow evening, December 2nd, 2015, the United Kingdom parliament votes to extend the RAF’s role in the middle-east by allowing it to join with other countries to bomb  ISIL strongholds in Syria. Unfortunately ordinary families, who play no active part in the violence going on there, live in these places. Though there are noble exceptions, we seldom read of, listen to, or view the suffering and loss of these unfortunate people. Their fate does not seem to be an issue which overly troubles our media.

Our reaction to the terrible events in Paris on the night of  November 13th, 2015, lets us know how  unbearable we find the slaughter of innocents.  This may help us begin to imagine the horror Syrians living in their country and those who have fled it  have experienced and are still experiencing.  Since the start of the civil war 250,000 Syrian citizens have died as a consequence of military/terrorist action. Further British intervention will add to those deaths.

The expansion and escalation of military action may or may not  be what people of the United Kingdom want, but we are left to ponder what the worth of a girl’s, a boy’s, a woman’s and a man’s life is. Surely this is the issue Members of Parliament should be weighing up when tomorrow they examine their consciences.