Special Report: Residential Care
CYP Now
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Children's homes look after some of the most vulnerable young people in the care system, but providers and practitioners are working hard to create nurturing and therapeutic environments.
The long-awaited review of children’s residential care by government adviser Sir Martin Narey should go a long way to deciding the future direction for the sector. It is hoped the report, when published in the summer, will prompt government to map out a positive vision for residential child care, one that stems the fall in the number of children’s home placements.
Despite the recent policy drift, the quality of children’s residential care is improving. Ofsted data shows a significant rise in the proportion of homes rated “good” and “outstanding” by the inspectorate over the past year, partly driven by the introduction of new quality standards in April 2015. Although early days, it suggests providers and child care professionals have responded to the challenge by improving the focus on engaging young people in education and ensuring support better meets individuals’ needs.
However, the challenges facing the sector are significant. Local authority budget cuts combined with the increasingly complex therapeutic interventions needed by the young people coming into residential care is putting pressure on commissioners and settings to maintain the high standards. Staff training requirements that came in earlier this year could also exacerbate recruitment problems.
CYP Now’s Special Report on residential care identifies the main trends in children’s homes provision; highlights latest research showing the beneficial impact that residential care can have for very vulnerable children; and profiles examples of child care settings delivering innovative and outcomes-focused practice.
Residential Care – Policy context
Residential Care – Research evidence
Residential Care: Practice examples –
