The Residential Growth Project
‘As a council, we have a statutory obligation to care for vulnerable children and young people. But for everyone with Children’s Services, it’s much more than that: caring for those who need it most is what drives us every single day. It’s why we joined the council. When we talk about helping the people of Shropshire to live their best lives, it’s not just what we do: it’s who we are, as people and as professionals. The Residential Growth Project is at the heart of that aim: together, our teams of social workers, residential care workers, therapists and others are helping children and young people to address their traumas, so that they can step down and return to their families or foster families.
‘It's a project we should all be proud of. It’s evidence that the council does brilliant, transformative work that really improves people’s lives.’
Pippa Murphy, Children’s Services Transformation Programme Manager
What is the Residential Growth Project?
Right now, colleagues from around the council are working hard to open a new residential children’s home, Beulah House, in Market Drayton, as part of our ongoing Residential Growth Project. But what exactly is the project? How does it transform the lives of children and young people? And how is it helping to transform the council?
The residential growth programme is a breakthrough in residential care for Shropshire’s vulnerable children and young people. Currently, we have six specially designed homes across the county where children and young people receive the love, care and therapeutic support they need, so that in time they can return to their families, live with a loving foster family, or get ready to live independently.
Each home houses only two to four children at any one time, giving children and young people the time, space and support they need to grow as people, and to enjoy being young. The six residential homes offer stable, supportive and homely environments. Children and young people can stay living in Shropshire, close to their families, schools, and social networks.
All of our homes have a specialist purpose to ensure we can meet the individual needs of young people: homes for early intervention, homes for permanence, homes for planning and homes for progression to adulthood.
How is the Residential Growth Project transforming lives?
Rated ‘outstanding’ and ‘good’ by Ofsted, our homes give children and young people the time, space and support they need to grow as people. Each home offers a stable, supportive and homely environment for children and young people, so they can stay living in Shropshire, close to their families, schools and social networks, whilst receiving the professional therapeutic support and love they need for their futures.
These are homes that actually feel like real homes, not institutions. Our brilliant teams of social workers, care workers and therapists treat children as individuals. We listen to their voices and needs, and make sure they’re actively involved in their own care. There’s even a guest room, so friends and family can come and visit.
The result? We help children and young people to break the cycles of trauma, neglect and abuse, and are able to step down, either returning to live with their families, or to foster care.
Ofsted rate our homes ‘outstanding’ and ‘good’. Here’s how they praised our work.
“...Children have made excellent progress in important areas of their lives from their starting points since moving in. This is because children experience exceptional stability as a result of the close relationships they have with the staff and the consistent, individualised support that staff provide.
"Managers and staff work hard to make the home a warm and welcoming place for children to live. The home is highly personalised and reflects children’s interests. One child is an accomplished musician and plays in a band. A guitar and keyboard are readily to hand in the lounge for the child to practice on. Another child is a keen football supporter, and football paraphernalia is on display around the home. Staff encourage children to bring their friends to the home, where they watch television, enjoy a meal and relax. Children take pride in their home, which helps to increase their self-esteem and self-worth.
"Children’s emotional health and well-being are the highest priority for staff. Staff use interactive resources with children to enable them to name their emotions and feelings and to talk about them. This enables children to understand their emotions and to learn to regulate their complex behaviours.
"Staff support children to gain excellent skills for independent living. They implement bespoke plans which enable children to progress in their own time in line with their abilities. This includes helping children to complete a curriculum vitae, apply for part -time work, apply for their driving licence and to spend time independently in the community.”
· Ofsted – January 2022
How is the Residential Growth Project transforming the council?
We developed the Residential Growth Project in response to a crisis in residential care: costs were proving prohibitive, and children were frequently placed out of county, miles away from friends and family, schools and social networks, and everything else good in their lives.
Children looked after in residential care often have the most complex needs due to their experiences of trauma and abuse. By intervening early, we can help to make sure that these issues are resolved.
At the end of July 2023 the council had 51 children in residential spot purchase placements at an average cost of £5,502.02 per placement. 14 of these children are under 12 years old making up 27% of the population.
Every time we open a new home, not only do we improve outcomes for children and young people: we also deliver millions of pounds worth of savings.
Potential savings through cost avoidance and demand management:
• Approximately £286,875 per year from just 1 child reunifying with family.
• Approximately £241,179 per year from just one child stepping down to foster care
• Upwards of £5 million cost avoidance over 6 years based on just three children being re-unified to family and not remaining in Residential Care until independence.
• Upwards of £4 million cost avoidance over 6 years based on just three children stepping down to Fostering and not remaining in Residential Care until independence.
How the Residential Growth Project is transforming the council and transforming lives:
• We have a £1 million target to reduce high-cost residential placements, which we achieved in October 2023 through the Stepping Stones programme, which the Residential Growth Project supports through availability of internal beds
• Dramatically reduced reliance on external residential providers
• Made cost savings to council budget
• Provided high-quality care at excellent value
• Brought children back to Shropshire
• Increased placement stability
• Recruited and developed a skilled and experienced residential workforce
• Delivered sustainable provision for the children of Shropshire
Opening Beulah House: bringing people together from across the council
Opening a new home brings together experts from across the council. Lisa Henchey, Beulah House project manager, explains:
"In this initial phase of the Beulah House project, we're pleased to have achieved significant early milestones. This success is the result of cross-functional teamwork and support from various departments including planning, PSG, the OCE, communications, HR, and finance. Particular thanks must go to Charley Morrison from Planning, who ‘cut through the treacle’ and made what was threatening to be a protracted planning application process, simple and painless with her clear, no-nonsense advice and action. More props go to Anthea Richards from Property & Development who pulled everything together for the application in record time.
"By embracing new ways of working and challenging established assumptions, our diverse teams have collaborated to drive innovation. These early successes not only represent progress but also symbolize our commitment to reimagining traditional approaches and questioning norms.
"Our project team is actively exploring fresh strategies, challenging conventional thinking, and moving forward with confidence. Our early milestones highlight the combined efforts of different departments, collaborative working, and our exploration of unconventional paths, setting the stage for real transformation. They signify our potential to create significant savings, but more importantly, create a supportive environment and better outcomes for the children in our care. "
Why cottage pies, lasagnes and roast dinners are all our recipe for success
Dan Old, Residential Services Manager said:-
"The children and young people who live with us have often had very fractured home environments.
"They’ve simply never experienced many of those ‘homely’ things that the rest of us take for granted. And helping children overcome their traumas isn’t just about giving them professional therapeutic support – although that’s obviously vitally important, too. It’s about ensuring that they really feel like they’re in a loving, supportive family environment.
"In that context, something as simple as a good, nutritious, home-cooked meal every evening really makes a huge difference. Good food helps regulate emotions and helps children feel safe, valued and important. That means children are able to focus better at school, concentrate on their homework, and build better relationships with friends, family and carers. At our care homes, it’s the little things that make such a huge difference."