NCB Now: Improving residential practice

In 2003, the figure was 53 per cent and in the past year quality has risen by another nine per cent.

This progress is the result of the residential child care sector remembering, reclaiming, renewing and looking forward to a renaissance in residential child care thinking and practice. Foundations for effective residential practice can be found in the national residential contracts and National Occupational Standards, which reflect the subtlety and complexity of residential life. The sector is looking forward to professional standards for residential workers and the Children's Workforce Development Council consultations starting next month will be a step towards this.

Politicians and civil servants' experience of intense disadvantage is rare. Even professionals' understanding can be limited - especially when it comes to understanding what is necessary to care appropriately for young people in care. In the next few months we look forward to the guidance in the Children and Young Persons Act and to revising the National Minimum Standards - both with a focus on outcomes. Sector-specific knowledge is important to avoid unintended consequences where developments in one area affect another. The complexity of the sector and subtlety of the task have to be appreciated if we are to ensure a diversity and sufficiency of supply.