This study was attempted to investigate parent management self-efficacy of children, The social-learning theory and the self-efficacy construct were heuristic in explaining the role of management changes experienced while the families were involved in a child and family psychiatric unit . A parent management self-efficacy questionnaire was designed to measure parents changing confidence du1-ing the inpatient/outpatient short-term intervention program, Specific questions were asked about management situations, It was administered twice weekly to both parents, of an ad mi t t e d ch i l d. Be ha vi our a l meas u res we r e als o completed b y parents and staff, evaluating the child's progress, The program lasts for 10 weeks, the first five being inpatient treatment and the outpatient follow-up completing the short-term therapeutic program, A 6 month follow-up was attempted for all families satisfactorily completing the research requirements. Results from this study are tentative. They suggest that self-efficacy in child management is an important variable in the maintenance of healthy psychological chang. Further refinement is necessary to establish the relationship between child behavioural performance, self-efficacy in management and therapeutic intervention provided by a child inpatient treatment. There is some indication that if management self efficacy is not enhanced during the 10 week program, then long-term change is doubtful.