NCERCC response to DfE Delivering the children’s social care reset 2026- 2029.

More questions than answers 
As one person close to NCERCC observed of the policy document. (Thanks for capturing it so succinctly).

Question #1
How is it after 80 years* we are still scratching about putting together children’s social care places (and system) that meets needs?

In one of the world’s most prosperous countries.

The answer (that isn’t and cannot be an answer) Regional Care Co-operatives in their current form are not an answer to the question and are not a solution. Neither the process nor the product.

Question#2 
How is it that the idea of regional care cooperatives has been colonised for control by government in England?

The original idea from Australia (brought back by a central member of the Care Review who had worked there?) led to provider cooperatives, cooperation amongst its members releasing creativity in meeting needs. This released local authorities to concentrate on true commissioning, shaping responses with providers rather than rejigging procurement as the coops in England currently are no matter how their projects are presented.

The regional care cooperatives in Australia were concerned with decentralisation.

The regional care cooperatives in England with all policy products coming through them are concerned with centralisation.

Question #3 
Still nothing on ending the low pay of residential child care workers? When?

Whilst adult care creeps towards a Fair Pay agreement, though insufficient it is still ‘something.’ But what? Less low pay is still low pay.

In all the preoccupation, even perseveration, with profits there has been nothing on pay for residential child care workers. Meanwhile foster carer income has been boosted, by various means not affecting providers, through tax allowances. But nothing for residential child care workers, those working for those with the highest needs.

The government are creating the situation where a foster carer can receive higher income than the wage for a residential child care worker. The response needs not to be ‘So, what?’ but ‘Then, what?’ Or avoid it.

A broad spectrum look at children’s social care shows we have always paid its workers too little. Here is a practical way for regional care cooperatives to do something positive for residential child care workers – adopt a fair pay agreement and enact it in any dealings with providers, contractually providers will pay the fair pay agreement to be part of the cooperative workings. Shall we start at £20 an hour.

If the government insist the profits are there.
The profits are there because they are made by residential child care workers.

Reducing profits before attending to pay leads to residential child care workers continuing to face continuing hardship compared to others in children’s social care. Labour was formed to represent working people.

Question #4
Could profits not be used to fund a national a national residential child care academy? How? 

A percentage of surplus going to a national academy with regional centres delivering the curriculum whereby all entering were professionally developed to work with all children everywhere. Entry level to be Level 4 embedded in a Foundation degree.

Question #5
Profits to fund truly independent research by researchers with know-how.

This would move decision making to be evidenced based policy and end policy-based evidence for policy making.

An emerging theme
Not only does there appear to be no ‘home’ being made amongst children’s social care placements for children’s homes, but there is no appreciation of the consequences.

Just wondering …
If the result of the policy is as described then in 2029 will those around the table be saying, “Well I wouldn’t start from here’.

* 1946 Curtis Committee report