Local placement
as a priority
Place all children locally unless there is good reason not to
Our Vision
The right care for you.
By working together, your voice will be stronger and more influential.
By working together across the South East, we will provide the right care for you that is available locally and when needed. Our promise to you is that we will be loving, caring, and maintain high aspirations for you throughout.
We will listen to you, put your needs first, and will not give up on you. By working together, your voice will be stronger and more influential.
Welcome to South East Regional Care Cooperative
“Working together across the South East, we will provide the right care for you that is available locally and when needed”
Why We Exist
A shortage of suitable placements and decisions based on availability, not
the best match for the child
In 2022, both the Independent Review (led by Josh MacAlister) and the Competition and Market Authority’s market study exposed several challenges within the children’s social care system. Local authorities (LAs) struggle to forecast and plan for future needs due to their small size and significant year-on-year variations, especially of children with complex needs.
LAs lack the buying power and capacity to shape the market for the long-term or invest in their own care provision. This results in a shortage of suitable placements and decisions based on availability rather than the best match for the child, leading to poor care experiences for many children.
Key Goals
Our Strategic Priorities
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Centering activity around the voices of care-experienced children and young people.
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Commissioning care placements for children with complex needs.
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Bringing all stakeholders and partners in the region together.
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Developing the local workforce.
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Creating a sustainable RCC which meets the needs of the South East.
Our Ambitions
What we're aiming to achieve
We set the bar high to put children as our top priority, with our aspirations set even higher.
Our mission is clear: Create a network of highly skilled and valued individuals that are dedicated to meeting and exceeding the needs of local children .
Measuring Our Impact
Our success
is reflected in outcomes
The right care, at the right time
The right care and support being available at the right time for a child or young person is vital and one of our top priorities. Keeping .
Ensuring no child is given up on
No child deserves any less than being treated equally to all the others in care, and given the same focus and priority to help them as best we can.
Needs-led care
Providing care that is needs-led and tailored to the child’s circumstances.
Step-down to foster care
Facilitating step-down to foster care when residential care is no longer in the child’s best interests.
Keeping children close to home
Keeping looked-after children and young people closer to their home, families, and community.
Maintaining family bonds
Maintaining family bonds while a child is looked after, and ensuring homes feel like homes for them.
High aspirations for children
Ensuring everyone involved in children’s social care shares the same high aspirations for children and young people.
Highly skilled local staff
Increasing the number of highly skilled staff in the region who deliver quality care to children and young people.
