Children's minister Josh MacAlister visited a children's home in Wirral this week and declared that the approach used in Merseyside should be replicated "across the whole of England." The minister toured one of We Are Juno's four foster homes in the Liverpool City Region, a not-for-profit company that partners with local authorities and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to create welcoming homes for children in care.
Minister Impressed by Homely Atmosphere
During the visit, Mr MacAlister saw how each child can choose the wallpaper and decorations in their bedroom. He said: "I've heard a lot about Juno over the years but I've never been to see one of the homes. I've been to a lot of children's homes and they don't all feel like this. There's too many homes that lack a sense of personality and don't feel like a home. This is the sort of care system that we're trying to build across the whole of England."
Upcoming Reforms to Foster Care
The visit came ahead of what Mr MacAlister has described as "the biggest package of changes to reset the care system for a generation." The Regional Care Cooperative (RCC) model, already operating in Greater Manchester and the South East of England, is being rolled out to about two thirds of the country. The MP also plans to add 10,000 extra homes in foster care by the end of this Parliament. One of the new RCC areas announced is Liverpool City Region and Cheshire.
How the RCC Model Works
Explaining the RCC model, Mr MacAlister told the LDRS: "The idea is to pull together all the local authorities in a region, their spending power and their expertise, so that they can take back control of the care system."
Mayor Steve Rotheram's Praise
Also at the home was Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region. He praised Mr MacAlister for being "on top of his brief" and added: "We looked at a way of doing things differently with Juno to create an alternative to some of the harrowing stories you hear. These are some of the most vulnerable people in our society and we push them round a system and making things worse for them. This is about stability. This is about giving them a genuine opportunity to reach their full potential. It's not just about stopping them from getting into the criminal justice system. They have the same amount of talent as anyone else, they just don't get the opportunities."
