CYP Now - NCB Now: Children's Residential Network calls for national centre for residential childcare

The Children's Residential Network's first national conference, held on 13 October in Birmingham, called for a national centre to draw together expertise, promote high standards of practice, influence policy and give a voice to the children and young people in residential care.

The network, based at NCB, represents over 80 per cent of children's homes, special schools and other residential settings.

A feasibility study on a national centre, funded by the Social Education Trust and the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, was launched at the event. The report, Momentum: establishing a centre for residential childcare for England, by Sally Bamsey and Jonathan Stanley, found overwhelming support within the sector.

"Residential care has evolved dramatically over the last few years," said Sally Bamsey, manager of NCB's Children's Residential Care Unit. "The introduction of national minimum standards and the formation of the network have led to a surge of new ideas and best practice development. A national centre would provide a focus for all this activity and enable us to present a unified and authoritative voice for residential childcare to the Government."

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