Is this the prospectus for a Burnham government and Residential Child Care?

Here is how the ideas of Andy Burnham held before being Prime Minister could assist Residential Child Care  

How might Burnham Labour plan the funding of Residential Child Care? – NCERCC

A Burnham repurposing of Residential Child Care requires the relational reimagining of regional care cooperatives – and so much more – NCERCC

Geopolitical shocks in the Gulf directly disrupt children’s social care – what to do? – NCERCC

NCERCC would welcome others engaging in analysis, critique, comment and proposals.

Currently, there seems little creative thinking beyond manualised and assisted implementation of pre-Burnham ideological policies.

This government must move rapidly beyond the old government.

The current situation made clear in https://centreforcare.ac.uk/updates/2026/08/new-research-briefing-childrens-pathways-into-and-out-of-care-in-england-2021-2025/

With reference to Residential Child Care the old government was a dominant coercive influence, managing more of the same, but not creating or leading.

Compliance or silence and inaction by the sector to any of the previous government’s plans should not be taken as consent. Rather there is a withholding of consent.

This is a moment to pause and reflect. In the moment that new regional care cooperatives are being taken forwards is the very moment that providers are not opting in. There is, at least, an unresolving scepticism.

Trust is constructed in a facilitating policy environment. The old government did not set out to create trust with regards to Residential Child Care, its policies seeking to undermine legitimacy and viability. The old government did not trust Residential Child Care and the sector did not (still does not) trust the government.

Trust first has to be given for it to be reciprocated. Is this how the withholding has originated?

There is an unexpressed crisis of stewardship and authority. Who has the authority to take decisions about RCC? Who ‘owns’ the right to decision making concerning Residential Child Care.

The coercion that underlies the regional care cooperatives is a recognition that government, local and national, have lost control. The assertion of control is negated by withholding.

Can a coercive exercise of force like regional care cooperatives bring forwards relational supportive trusting reciprocal communication? In what way do they ‘own’ the right to decision making concerning Residential Child Care.

Another example of the loss of control is the rapid increase in the sector, 20% last year, %0%+ over 5 years, is beyond that which the resources can support with resilience. There are not the informed, experienced, people with know-how. The rapid increase comes a time of reduction fostering.

There is a gap between the ‘already’ incapable regional care cooperatives and ‘not yet’ capable new ideas.

The new Prime Minister, has established new thinking and directions in previous roles.

This is urgently needed to future proof Residential Child Care.