What is residential childcare?

August is a fun month. It's the height of summer, the tan is forming, and the excuse to eat more ice cream is just a health benefit to cool down. But as much as we can, and should, be enjoying this time, it's also an excellent time to invest in your September preparations.

September is the 'Back to school' season for children, parents, and those working in childcare. In July, there are many residential working vacancies for childcare as the school year ends and contracts will be renewed or staff will progress. The summer is a good time to start working in residential homes as it gives you time to prepare and start your training before the students return in September.

What is residential childcare?

Residential child care is a kind of child care setting where children will live and be looked after by paid adult staff who tend to work on a shift basis and live elsewhere. Most times, the children will live amongst other children.

Example types of residential childcare settings:

• Boarding school residential houses – this is where pupils will live and socialise outside of their school hours but on the same grounds as their school
• Children's homes/group care – this can be generic home for children of different ages and needs (such as asylum seekers)
• Specially commissioned provision for single children – Where children cannot safely be placed with their peers or where no suitable establishment can be identified, a specific placement may be created
• Therapeutic/ high support units – For children with complex needs who cannot be cared for in mainstream settings and who need a range of specialist support, such as therapy or on-site education. They have a higher staff ratio per child and offer a therapeutic milieu.
• Secure care – Locked establishments taking children who are deemed to be a risk to themselves or others and/or who have committed offences.
• Supported accommodation in preparation for independence – Accommodation for older adolescents preparing to live independently. They may live in groups, with a resident or non-resident staff offering support.

What are the different types of residential childcare arrangements?

1. Staying with parents (compulsory supervision order)
2. Kinship care
3. Foster care
4. Children's homes
5. Residential schools (house parent)

What is a compulsory supervision order?

A compulsory supervision order is sent by the local authority based on a children's hearing in which the child can continue living with the parents but must have consistent checkups with a social worker and follow a care plan that will have been thought out by the parents, schools and local authority. There are two reasons why a compulsory supervision order would be sent:

1. Because the child has been in trouble with the police or
2. Because the child requires care and protection.

What is kinship care?

Kinship care is when children live full-time with a close friend or relative who isn't the biological parent, usually because they cannot take care of them. Statistics show that most kinship carers are grandparents. However, many relatives, including aunts, uncles, older siblings, neighbours or family friends, can also be kinship carers.

What is foster care?

Foster care is when children live with a safe and caring family, typically when their parents cannot care for them anymore. A foster carer's responsibility is to offer a safe environment for the foster child on a temporary or permanent basis. In the UK, there are over 78,000 children who have been taken into care. More than 60% of the time, these children are taken into care because of abuse or neglect.

What is a children's home?

When children cannot live with their own family or stay with foster carers, they may go to a children's home. This is similar to a foster placement but they are different. A residential children's home is usually larger than a foster home. There are more adults that are professional staff rather than a foster home which the foster parents are usually the owners of the house.

Sometimes children may have multiple different needs and different homes will be able to offer support for each of them.

What is a residential school / houseparent?

A residential school, also known as a boarding school, is a school where pupils live and socialise outside their school hours but on the same grounds as their school. In some cases, they are expected to run the house in accordance with agreed school practice as part of a collegiate houseparent body. Sometimes, the Houseparent will be a member of the teaching staff and have typical teaching responsibilities (usually, a reduction in teaching duties is made due to the Houseparent's obligations).

So how do I start working in residential childcare?

You will need training first.

Most students will go and get a qualification.

This is because it tends to be what most managers will seek when combing through CVs before experience. In fact, just enrolling on your course is enough for managers to consider you. It shows you have taken the initiative to progress yourself.

You'll want to start with the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare first. Click here to view more information about this course.