The National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care (NCERCC) aims to improve standards of residential child care through collaboration. The NCERCC works to increase knowledge of the sector among commissioners and professionals. It also facilitates communication between commissioners and providers. Key issues the NCERCC addresses include the lack of sector knowledge among commissioners, dividing the sector into user needs and available services, and balancing cost and quality of provision. The NCERCC provides a model for expert, independent support to guide effective commissioning.

1. Case Study
Collaborative working to improve
commissioning in children’s residential
childcare (NCERCC)
September 2009
Overview
Jonathan Stanley is the manager of the National Centre for Excellence in Residential
Child Care (NCERCC) which acts as the principle reference point for all maters
relating to residential childcare in England. Jonathan has worked at NCERCC since its
inception over four years ago, working collaboratively with all those involved in or
affected by residential child care. This document outlines some of the NCERCC’s
work in helping to improve commissioning practices in residential childcare and
discusses how this learning can be generalised and applied to other areas of
commissioning.
The National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care (NCERRC)
The National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care (NCERCC) is based at the
National Children’s Bureau (NCB) within their social inclusion department. The Centre is a
collaborative initiative aimed at improving standards of practice and outcomes for children
and young people in residential child care in England.
The centre is DCSF funded and has the support and commitment of key players in the
sector. It focuses specifically on vulnerable children and young people living away from
home in the full range of residential care situations including all types and sizes of
children’s homes and residential special schools. Its mission is to have a significant and
positive impact on the life chances of these vulnerable young people.
The NCERRC aims to work collaboratively with and to target everyone involved or affected
by residential child care, including:
• Commissioners
• Providers
• Researchers
• Practitioners
• Regulators
• Children, young people and their families
Commissioning Support Programme
99 Waterloo Road
London SE1 8XP

2. Collaborative working to improve commissioning in children’s residential childcare (NCERCC)
The centre currently serves in an advisory capacity and as an information point for anyone
involved in residential child care. Their aim is to become the principle reference point for
the sector. Jonathan argues that the organisation is in a unique position in helping them to
achieve this:
“The first thing that we are very clear about and that we want everybody to understand
very clearly is that we are neither a provider nor a commissioner. We are there in a
third, independent role, able to explain, mediate, praise and maybe challenge as is
necessary. We are involved with a lot of people, so our knowledge and evidence base
is broad, from which we’re able to understand the themes which are current. We’re in a
very privileged position, to be trusted, to be able to offer a view back to people and for
it to be appreciated. We defend our independence and we value the trust that people
place in us. However, we are always honest, and we always speak from an evidence
base whether that be knowledge or experience. And if we don’t have an evidence
base, then we say ‘we don’t know, but we’ll try to find out’.”
Issues surrounding commissioning in residential child care and NCERCC
solutions
Outlined below are a number of issues related to good commissioning in residential child
care services and some of the steps NCERCC have taken towards overcoming these
issues. Whilst the centre’s work focuses entirely on residential child care and
commissioners in other sectors may not have a sector-specific support group such as the
NCERCC, the issues discussed below could readily apply to commissioning in general
throughout all children and young people’s services.
Lack of sector knowledge
One of the major issues facing commissioners of residential care is a lack of sector
knowledge or understanding. This issue sometimes extends to social workers and other
professionals. In terms of actual numbers, relatively few children ever experience
residential childcare therefore the vast majority of people, even in professional practice will
rarely come into contact with children who are or have been in residential childcare.
Further to this, social-workers do not always study residential care as part of their degree
course or professional training. NCERCC has a practice development module on its
website that aims to support a greater understanding of the sector but they impress it is
very much a brief introduction which aims to lead people to further reading .
The National Occupational Standard for commissioners of children and young people’s
services could also be strengthened by requiring commissioners to demonstrate
knowledge of the Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children's Workforce 1 as
part of their professional competencies.
In order to try to address the lack of sector-specific knowledge amongst commissioners the
NCERCC have been actively contributing to the current developments around
commissioning in children services and were involved in developing the national contract
1
The Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children's Workforce sets out the basic skills and
knowledge needed by people (including volunteers) whose work brings them into regular contact with children,
young people and families. By using a common language, it will enable professionals to work together more
effectively in the interests of the child and underpins successful integrated working. For more information see
http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/common-core
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3. Collaborative working to improve commissioning in children’s residential childcare (NCERCC)
for the placement of children in residential homes 2 . The NCERCC have also produced a
number of publications intended to educate and inform commissioners about the sector.
Including:
• 10 Top Tips for Commissioners re Residential Child Care 3
• What Works in Residential Child Care 4
All of the centre’s publications can be found on the NCERCC website under the ‘A-Z of
Residential Child Care’ section 5
Dividing the sector into needs and marketplace
Building upon the need of commissioners and other professionals to develop a good
understanding of the sector the NCERCC believe the sector should be thought of in two
parts; needs and marketplace. Commissioners must first have a good understanding of
young peoples’ needs – in this case their care needs, and then must secondly gain an
understanding of the marketplace of providers and solutions that can meet those needs.
Problems in managing and developing the market in this sector were highlighted in a
DCFS commissioned report on children’s homes and fostering 6 which calls for an audit of
needs and providers of services in residential child care:
“Barriers exist to further development of the markets, including a lack of transparency
on costs; limited visibility of markets; a shortage of experienced managers able to
successfully manage local markets; limited dialogue between suppliers and
commissioners; inconsistent application of overall national commissioning frameworks;
potentially conflicting roles of local authorities as commissioner and provider” 7
The NCERCC have put a lot of effort into encouraging commissioners and providers to
work together They provide advice over the telephone to commissioners who have
questions about issues relating to residential child care and encourage commissioners to
take the time to visit residential care homes to experience the relationships formed
between children and their carers.
In terms of needs analysis the NCERCC believe there is a necessity for greater trend
forecasting to predict future demand. For the residential care sector such forecasting could
help predict the number of children likely to be affected by conditions such as foetal alcohol
syndrome or autism.
2
Can be found at
http://www.commissioningsupport.org.uk/pdf/National%20contract%20for%20the%20placement%2
0of%20children%20in%20residential%20homes%20(November%202007).pdf
3
Available to view at
http://partner.ncb.org.uk/ncercc/ncercc%20practice%20documents/ncercc_top_ten_tips_for_commi
ssioners.pdf
4
Available to view at
http://partner.ncb.org.uk/ncercc/ncercc%20practice%20documents/whatworksinrccsummary_ncbhig
hlight.pdf
5
http://partner.ncb.org.uk/Page.asp?originx_2730xj_63051222630485k57x_20072153518w
6
DfES children's services: children's homes and fostering London: PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2006
available to view at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RW74.pdf
7
Ibid
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4. Collaborative working to improve commissioning in children’s residential childcare (NCERCC)
Working together and improving communications
Through the experience of running the NCERCC and liaising with both providers and
commissioners, Jonathan and his team have become aware of the importance of good,
clear communication and collaborative working to improve commissioning. It is the
relationship between providers and commissioners that is important.- providers need to
have a good understanding of the role of commissioners and vice versa commissioners
need to have a good understanding of the providers role. Communication needs to be
informed, open and transparent .
In order to improve communications between providers, commissioners and all others
involved in residential child care, the NCERCC has created the Children’s Residential
Network (CRN). This is both an email and ‘real’ network which provides the opportunity for
information, advice, support and experience to be shared with the aim of enhancing
standards in residential care .The network sends monthly email digests of all the latest
issues and news and developments in the sector as well as hosting twice-annual meetings
and regional events across the country and organising best-practice seminars.
Cost versus quality of provision
Following the Gershon Review 8 the debate around cost versus quality of provision is an
issue that runs through all areas of commissioning. The Gershon Review outlines the
scope for public sector effectiveness and efficiencies – particularly within the public
sector's procurement and transaction service and policy-making functions. The NCERCC
believes the original report equally balanced quality and quantity but that in its
interpretation too great an emphasis has been placed on cost savings at the expense of
balancing this with quality of provision. The NCERCC believes that that there is a need to
emphasise and progress a parenting and child care perspective in the commissioning
of children and young people’s services – resulting in commissioners, as part of
corporate parenting responsibilities, considering the importance of the parental and
caring role of these services alongside their cost.
The centre has published a paper entitled “Commissioning is a parenting and child
care activity” 9 which outlines a method for evidencing the balance between cost and
quality of care provision. The NCERCC wishes to see:
• Child-centred commissioning both in theory and practice
• Recognition of the necessity for a collective and participative approach in the
commissioning of Residential Child Care 10 .
Jonathan argues that this brief paper provides an interesting and alternative
perspective on Gershon and is worth reading in full. The papers executive summary
states:
8
Releasing resources to the front line – Independent Review of Public Sector Efficiency Sir Peter
Gershon CBE Available at http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hm-
treasury.gov.uk/media/C/A/efficiency_review120704.pdf
9
Available to view at
http://partner.ncb.org.uk/ncercc/ncercc%20practice%20documents/ncercc_commissioning_desire_t
he_link_between_intention_and_desire.pdf
10
Ibid
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5. Collaborative working to improve commissioning in children’s residential childcare (NCERCC)
“The primary task of this paper is to start a discussion…around the following question:
What is the definition of quality we are using in planning placements for children and is
it related to the task of caring for /parenting them?
To date publications, and especially Gershon, have given definitions of the tasks and
outcomes of commissioning in terms of finance and administration… Putting children at
the centre of the commissioning process through the conscious use of child care
thinking is an important balance for the positive developments made in regard of
finance and administration.
When parents make decisions about their children, they draw on their knowledge of the
child’s needs and wishes and the relationship between them and the child. This paper
outlines the basis on which we believe that commissioning should draw on a similar
relational approach, informed by child development theories and driven by the desire to
make a difference to looked after children.”
Measurement of outcomes
Finally, building on the need to assess provision by cost and quality measures, the
NCERCC feels there should be a greater focus on qualitative measures when assessing
outcomes of provision for children and young people. A qualitative measure of these
outcomes would explore the affect such provision has had on the lives the of the young
people in question – and aim to understand whether such provision had led to an
improvement in their quality of life. In keeping with views on collaborative working, the
centre is encouraging providers and commissioners to work together to define desired
outcomes and ways to assess them from the outset.
Lessons that can be applied to all areas of commissioning
Several lessons can be taken from the issues and solutions raised by the NCERCC:
• Commissioners should think of the sector in which they operate as having two distinct
yet closely related parts – needs and marketplace. Commissioners should have a clear
and detailed understanding of both parts of their sector in order to commission
effectively.
• It is clear from the NCERCC’s experiences that commissioners need to try hard to
understand the sector in which they are commissioning and the issues surrounding that
sector. Commissioners can improve their knowledge in a number of ways including
talking openly with other sector professionals including providers, and other
commissioners. In addition commissioners can try to understand the needs of the
young people they commission on behalf of by visiting provider’s facilities as well as
consulting with young people. This requires dedication to working collaboratively and
having open and honest relationships between all those involved in the commissioning
process. This is not easily achieved but it is something the Commissioning Support
Programme is committed to helping achieve.
• Commissioners should consider improving their knowledge and understanding of the
Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children's Workforce.
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6. Collaborative working to improve commissioning in children’s residential childcare (NCERCC)
• Commissioners can seek expert, independent advice from bodies such as the
NCERCC or the Commissioning Support Programme. Other sectors have bodies
similar to the NCERCC which can help provide advice about commissioning
placements for children living away from home , for example , fostering has the British
Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) and schools have the National
Association of Independent and Non- Maintained Special Schools
• Finally, commissioners should reconsider their understanding of the implications of
Gershon in providing services for children and young people in order to achieve a
balance between cost and quality of provision.
To find out more
This case study is based on a telephone interview with Jonathan Stanley manager of the
National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care (NCERCC)
Email: jstanley@ncb.org.uk
Tel: 020 7843 1168
Website: www.ncb.org.uk/ncercc
Commissioning Support Programme 6