We are the child-centred voice of residential childcare in England and Wales. We work to improve outcomes for children and young people, through daily, expert-led support to residential childcare professionals, evidence-based guidance to government and stakeholders, and bold vision when change is needed.
We’re here for children’s homes organisations, the staff who work in them and the children who live in them. The support we provide to our members is broad and varied, guiding our members on all aspects of managing and providing care in a children’s homes, while providing a powerful platform for collaboration between all those organisations and stakeholders involved in residential childcare for children and young people.
Knowledge, advice and child-centred support
We work hard to keep our members up to date with changes in policy, legislation or other issues in the residential child care sector – through regular updates, bulletins and regional meetings.
As the only source of comprehensive guidance and support in the residential childcare sector, we help our members overcome the complexities and challenges of operating a children’s home, or multiple homes – from communication with regulators to crisis management - sharing a vision for exemplary care and improved outcomes for children and young people.
Collaboration
We actively develop partnerships, collaborations and professional communities to share best practice and for the benefit of our members, the sector and all those cared for within it.
Through continued engagement as the voice of the residential childcare sector and those in its care, we help stakeholders, local authorities and residential care providers work together in the best interests of children and young people, and find solutions to challenges from commissioning to costing, service development to outcome improvement, recruitment to regulation.
Innovation
Our experts and associates maintain a comprehensive view of the residential childcare sector and a deep understanding of all the issues that affect our members and the individuals in their care.
This powerful network of expertise enables us to be innovative in the solutions and opportunities we provide, as well as sharing invaluable insights and expertise. We also take action on the issues we identify that are impacting providers of residential childcare, and most importantly, the children and young people they support, through our campaigns and evidence-based development work.
Sector Leadership
As the trusted voice of the residential child care sector, we work directly with local and national Government, regulators and allied public services, consulting on policy and changes within the sector. Our work ensures that the residential childcare sector, the most complex but often 'forgotten sector' of social care, has a voice.
We ensure that the voices of our members are heard, and that the experiences of children and young people are acted upon, through proactive responses to consultations, Government responses and liaison with the media.
