After reading the latest publications from Ofsted alongside commentary from the Children’s Homes Association, it’s clear there is a lot of tension between rapid growth in provision and the ongoing struggle to find suitable placements for the children who need the most support. This post shares a brief reflection on what those documents reveal, andContinue reading “Reimagining Children’s Residential: From Crisis Management to Strategic System Design”
Author Archives: DS Wellbeing and Development Network
From Rigid Labels to Flexible Care Interventions
The language and terminology used in residential children’s services significantly impact practice and perceptions. Traditionally, distinctions have been made between “care” in children’s homes and “support” in supported accommodation. However, this binary classification often oversimplifies the reality of service delivery and fails to reflect the continuum of care needed by young people as they transitionContinue reading “From Rigid Labels to Flexible Care Interventions”
[repost] A Reconsideration of Inspections in Children’s Homes and Supported Accommodation
[this post was originally published in March 2024] Back in 2016, Sir Martin Narey urged the government to “review the practice of using one- or two-word judgments when inspecting children’s homes”, assuming that these judgments might do” a disservice to some thoughtful reporting”. This led to some discussion, but the system remains unaltered. Last yearContinue reading “[repost] A Reconsideration of Inspections in Children’s Homes and Supported Accommodation”
Beyond Labels
I’ve been sitting quietly (most of the time…) watching the discussions unfold around #care and #support in residential children’s services, especially following the recent #Ofsted posts and webinars. It’s fascinating how certain terminology, once removed from guidance, has found its way back into the conversation.The confusion around care classifications and debates about appropriate intervention inContinue reading “Beyond Labels”
[001.24] Focusing Beyond Judgments: A Reconsideration of Inspections in Children’s Homes and Supported Accommodation
Back in 2016, Sir Martin Narey urged the government to “review the practice of using one- or two-word judgments when inspecting children’s homes”, assuming that these judgments might do” a disservice to some thoughtful reporting”. This led to some discussion, but the system remains unaltered. Last year the discussion around the appropriateness of Ofsted’s single-wordContinue reading “[001.24] Focusing Beyond Judgments: A Reconsideration of Inspections in Children’s Homes and Supported Accommodation”
[010.23] The Social Sciences ADNetwork
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to share some news about my participation in the creation of a Supported Accommodation Providers Association. Today, I wanted to share something else that I am also involved with and that is creating a lot of excitement. The Social Sciences ADNetwork. The SSADNetwork is a network to foster collaboration, knowledgeContinue reading “[010.23] The Social Sciences ADNetwork”
[009.23] Supported Accommodation Association
As many of you may know, my passion and commitment to supporting individuals in care and care leavers have been the driving forces behind my journey in the realm of supported accommodation. I’ve always believed that collective action and collaboration can lead to transformative change, and I’m excited to share with you a significant chapterContinue reading “[009.23] Supported Accommodation Association”
Miguel Valerio 