National Residential Child Care Initiative

The National Residential Child Care Initiative (NRCCI), led by SIRCC, will consider the challenges facing residential child care (RCC) in Scotland and make recommendations for change 'to make residential care the first and best placement of choice for those children whose needs it serves.'¹

Through three Working Groups the NRCCI will consider:

• An audit and strategy for the development and supply of RCC services to match the full range of needs of children and young people
• The range of skills, qualifications and qualities required of the RCC workforce
• The development of an agreement of expectations between local authorities and RCC providers to ensure effective commissioning of services which lead to better outcomes for children and young people

Background to the NRCCI

Home Truths: Residential Child Care in Scotland – A Context Paper, published and launched by SIRCC earlier this year, acknowledged that hundreds of vulnerable children and young people are successfully cared for in residential settings every year. However Home Truths highlighted the considerable challenges facing the RCC sector in delivering high quality services and achieving positive outcomes for all young people in its care.

As the Centre for Excellence for residential child care SIRCC is delighted to have been asked by the Scottish Government to lead on the NRCCI and provide a unique opportunity to address the many issues raised in Home Truths.

¹ The Minister's statement to Parliament, 7 February 2008, quote at column 5928: www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-08/sor0207-02.htm