Better Together? Learning Lessons for Group Decision-Making Practice from a Study of Secure Accommodation in Scotland

This paper draws on the findings of a research study that examined the factors that influence local decision-making in cases where a child or young person is being considered by residential workers, social workers and senior managers for placement in a secure unit. After outlining the research problem and case study approach taken, the paper focuses on explicating the findings of the study that relate to the impact of group membership, goals, roles and norms on group performance in such cases. The paper illustrates how attending to these four areas, and the way in which power relations impact on them, may help those developing and managing groups to improve decision-making practice.