Management practices of the rural orphanage home in 1947-1953: local experience

The purpose of the study is to show the main management practices used in the institution in 1947-1953 based on the analysis of the interaction between the administration and the staff of the Starynsky Orphanage of the Boryspil district of the Kyiv region. The research methodology. The scientific approaches are based on applying the methods of social history, everyday history, and microhistory. It included the general scientific methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison, systematization, and generalization. The scientific novelty lies in an in-depth study of the experience of organizing an orphanage. Its local management practices were studied, contributing to expanding knowledge about the structure, decision-making processes, personnel policy, and daily activities of such institutions in a difficult period for Ukraine. Conclusions. The Starynsky Orphanage was formed in the year when the network of special children's institutions of the Ministry of Education in the Kyiv region increased to 29 institutions. The orphanage was placed in one of the villages of the district, the infrastructure and economic situation of which best corresponded to the possibilities of quickly satisfying the pupils with a minimum of mandatory needs. A staff of 18-20 people was engaged in the arrangement. The work was organized in compliance with the standards stipulated by the state regulatory documents. The chief manager of the institution was the director. The scope of his powers included the following: reporting on compliance with legislation to representatives of a number of district bodies; establishment of cooperation with other local managers (management of collective farms, a sugar factory, a school, a rural hospital) and with state institutions of regional subordination, included in the system of social protection of orphans; formation of staff capable of qualitatively solving the assigned tasks. Since the situation with the selection of employees was difficult (high staff turnover), the directors practiced various ways of solving it: recommendations, a trial period, combining positions, replacement by qualified personnel from representatives of the local community, or at the request of district authorities, temporary redistribution of responsibilities within the team. The experience of management activities in the Starynsky Orphanage complements the understanding of the conditions the administration had to face to ensure the institution's smooth operation in conditions of limited resources and unpredictable circumstances.