Category Archives: Opinions / Thoughts

Reimagining Children’s Residential: From Crisis Management to Strategic System Design

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”

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”

[003.23] It is time to change the narrative about children’s homes

In recent times, we frequently come across news highlighting opposition to the establishment of children’s homes in certain neighborhoods. However, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of considering the best interests of children and recognizing their right to a safe and nurturing living environment. Children’s homes play a vital role in providing a supportiveContinue reading “[003.23] It is time to change the narrative about children’s homes”