KEYNOTE: Quality, Stability and Outcomes for Children in Children’s Homes – New Evidence from Research

What constitutes quality in children’s homes, and how can it be understood in ways that reflect children’s lived experience of care? This keynote draws on findings from a mixed-methods study funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research, which examined stability and outcomes for children in children’s homes across England. Combining national administrative data with interviews and focus groups involving young people, parents, practitioners and commissioners, the research explored how care environments, workforce factors and wider systems shape children’s experiences and outcomes during and after care.

The presentation will argue that understanding quality requires us to look closely at the characteristics of individual children and homes, but also beyond them to the conditions shaping sufficiency in the care system. The findings highlight the importance of relational practice, workforce stability, effective matching and multi-agency support, alongside the influence of commissioning arrangements and placement decision-making. Children’s homes can act as stabilising environments for young people with complex needs, yet this role is often misunderstood in policy debates and undermined by wider pressures. By situating the findings within national and international discussions about residential care, the keynote will propose a whole-system perspective on quality, in which children’s homes contribute to stable relationships, well-planned transitions, and care pathways that support safety, belonging and progress into adulthood.