Higher Aspirations, Brighter Futures: National Residential Child Care Initiative Workforce Report

The NRCCI, led by SIRCC, was established by Adam Ingram, Minister for Children and Early Years, to deliver on the government’s commitment to work with partners to make residential care the first and best placement of choice for those children whose needs it serves. Its purpose was to undertake a strategic review of residential child care services and develop a blueprint for their development which would shape the future direction of services and ensure the needs of children and young people are met. This report highlights the overarching messages that emerged from the working groups which were set up to undertake this strategic review. It draws on the research, deliberations, findings and recommendations of the NRCCI which underline the need for action if the aspirations of the Government and all those working with and for looked after children and young people are to be realised. It sets out recommendations for change and is a call for elected members, government, professionals, inspection and regulatory bodies and agencies working with and for children and young people to read the comprehensive reports from the working groups, consider the messages and respond to the recommendations.