The UK government has unveiled a major overhaul of its children's social care model, in a bid to eradicate profiteering and ensure vulnerable youngsters receive the best possible support. Under the new scheme, five new Regional Care Cooperatives (RCCs) will be established across England, with £8.5 million in grant funding, to help local authorities manage care services more effectively.
Each RCC will bring together social workers, care providers, and other essential services like the police and health professionals to provide coordinated support for children in need. The new cooperatives will operate across multiple local authority areas, with seven RCCs now covering over 100 councils across England. This expansion aims to reduce the number of unregistered or substandard placements.
Four new Fostering Hubs are also set to launch before the end of the year in key regions, including the Black Country and North London. These hubs will offer comprehensive support to foster carers at every stage, from initial enquiry through to ongoing placements. The government is investing £23.1 million in its 'Home Again' programme, which provides individualised support plans for children with complex needs.
Children's Minister Josh MacAlister warned that the current system has let down too many youngsters, often placing them far from home in expensive and unsuitable settings, while some providers have made excessive profits. He stressed that the expanded model aims to create a care system prioritising children's wellbeing, with better-supported foster families, greater local authority control, and personalised support for vulnerable children.
The Department for Education is also consulting on simplified fostering standards, aiming to replace complex guidance with clearer rules for carers. This move follows reports highlighting excessive spending by some councils, including one instance where a child's costs reached £1 million annually.