Children’s minister promises blueprint for residential care in England

Children’s minister Josh MacAlister has set out plans for a blueprint for the future of residential care in England. The published script of his 11 November 2026 National Children and Adult Services Conference speech says he will use a forthcoming report by Emmanuel Akpan-Inwang to develop it.

The script calls for a smaller, more purposeful role for residential care, supported by investment in the expertise of practitioners working with children who have the greatest needs. It also sets out plans for a national push on family finding and links that work to an Enduring Relationships Strategy. Read the Department for Education’s published speech script.

What children’s home leaders can prepare

The speech gives providers an indication of the policy questions ahead. A useful starting point is to describe clearly what a home offers, which needs its team can support and how staff develop the skills needed for that work.

Make that account concrete. If a service describes its approach as therapeutic, explain what staff do in everyday routines, how specialist advice reaches the team and how managers review its effect. Include the learning and supervision that help staff apply the approach consistently across shifts.

Keep relationships visible in care planning

Managers can also review how their service helps children maintain the relationships identified in their individual plans. Check how the child’s views are recorded, how agreed arrangements reach the team and who follows up practical barriers with the placing authority.

Use anonymised examples in provider and commissioning discussions to show where collaboration helps and where a decision is still needed. A clear account of staffing, specialist input and partnership working can help those conversations become more specific as the proposed blueprint develops.

In the published script, the minister says the supporting report will appear soon. Providers can follow that publication and the subsequent blueprint to see how the stated ambitions translate into detailed proposals. Source and publication details, 11 November 2026.

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