Yonder and partners launch 'Care to Lead'.

We're excited to announce that Yonder and our partners have launched the first-ever programme for children's residential care in the Liverpool City Region and Cheshire to address unprecedented workforce pressures in children’s residential services.

‘Care to Lead’ - developed by Liverpool City Region and Cheshire Change and Integration Programme, Riverside College, children’s residential care provider We are Juno, social care consultancy Yonder and funded by the Department for Education and the Regional Improvement Partnership Pilot (RIPP) - is designed to equip people working in social care with the skills and confidence to step up into leadership roles.

Lucy Bailey, Yonder Programme Leader, said:

“The beating heart of children’s residential care are the skilled, dedicated people who show up every day for young people in care.

‘Care to Lead’ is a first-of-its-kind programme to develop new leaders that provide support, stability and positive outcomes for young people in Liverpool City Region and Cheshire. The path from frontline care worker to registered manager is not always clear, accessible or well-supported. Care to Lead is here to change that.”

Adele Brough, Project Manager, Change and Integration Programme: said:

“This course is the result of collaboration between people from a wide range of organisations, each bringing different perspectives, knowledge and experience.

Working together with Riverside, We are Juno, Yonder and local authority colleagues in Cheshire and Merseyside and across the Northwest, we’ve created something that will make a real difference in supporting and developing our children’s homes workforce and making a lasting difference for the young people they care for.”

Colette Dutton, Director for Children’s Services at Wigan Council, said:

“I am really proud to see the first group of care workers begin their journey towards becoming registered care managers. With a significant number of new residential homes opening and a shortage of experienced managers, the need for strong, skilled leadership has never been greater.

Thanks to the Department for Education’s commitment and the Regional Improvement Plan Pilot, we’re building the foundations for high-quality care that gives children and young people the support they deserve.”

Jenny Glennard, Corporate Director of Children & Young People’s Services, Liverpool City Council, said:

“As a former residential worker, registered manager and now a Director of Children’s Services, I am firmly supportive of this initiative and further investment in the residential workforce. Well trained and well supported residential staff can and do transform children’s lives and make us more parent, less corporate which is what all children in care tell us to be. Residential care staff are some of the most important members of the children’s workforce, often supporting children at their most vulnerable times.”

Joanne Burton, Head of Health and Social Care & Early Years, Riverside College said:

“This pioneering new course is recognition of the need among residential care providers to upskill staff and prepare them for future residential manager roles. We’re delighted to have played a part in shaping and delivering a programme that not only strengthens the workforce but also builds the stability that young people in care need most.”

Thomas McDowell, Care to Lead student, said:

"This course is a great opportunity for my personal development. I aspire to be a manager one day and this course will aid my progression towards management as it will give me a better understanding of a management role."

Interested in our Care to Lead and want to know more? Get in touch with Lucy by emailing lucy.bailey@yonderpeople.org