Documentary series to offer ‘unseen’ glimpse of life in children’s homes
Sian Hopkins
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
The Children’s Homes Association (CHA) has released the trailer for its series of short documentary films in a bid to “reset the narrative” around residential care for children.
It described its docuseries IN CARE as a voice for the providers of residential child care services in England and Wales.
The non-profit organisation has created the films with the aim of “improving a wider understanding of children’s homes and the young people who live in them”, it said.
Working with local and national governments, CHA provides insight and consultation on policy changes within the residential sector.
It said that the “sensitive nature” around filming in residential settings has led to “poor and greatly distorted” perceptions of residential care both in the public and though the media.
“Ultimately this has led to a discrimination against the young people in both daily life and political policy,” according to the organisation.
IN CARE series producer and CHA communications lead, Sophie Crewdson, said: “You cannot take a large film crew or news team into a children’s home. You cannot take anyone into a children’s home who does not understand and respect that setting and have the ability to build relationships and trust. But you also have to capture the reality.”
Launching in March, this original series of short documentaries will challenge misconceptions about #childrenshomes and the young people who live in them. #INCARE We can't wait to share these vitally important stories with the world. #residentialchildcare pic.twitter.com/ms3S7n7RNp
— The Children's Homes Association (@thechaorguk) February 19, 2024
The new series aims to address these concerns through “honest and upfront interviews with professionals, young people, and care leavers”, she added.
Ofsted’s 2023 annual report found that more than 75 per cent of local authorities had placed young people into unregistered children’s homes because of a lack of other options, sparking concerns over a sufficiency crisis in the residential sector.
This led to the CHA launching a national recruitment campaign to promote careers in residential childcare, using film as a primary medium of the campaign.
CHA’s interim chief executive, Mark Kerr said this campaign inspired the new series: “We ended up with such amazing, passionate narratives from residential practitioners and as we continued to build on that, our communications lead said ‘we must make a documentary series to reset the narrative about this sector’.
“This series will enable the public, media and policymakers to step inside a range of children’s homes for the first time and hear first-hand the testimonies of care professionals, young people and care leavers, at a time where improved understanding of the sector is desperately needed.”
After months of filming otherwise unseen glimpses into different residential childcare settings, the series will be launched across a range of social media channels in March.
