Hello - I,m looking into setting up a new childrens residential unit in the Midlands area. As i have a background in criminal justice and also have worked with children with behavioural & emotional problems in a social care setting.
My main problem is that as I am not a qualified social worker & don't even have an NVQ level 3, as I understand it - I am not qualified to register a unit by myself! I am basically after any advice on the best way for me to achieve my goal whether it be to try to find a 'qualified' partner to go into business with or to just employ a registered manager & where to find these people??
Many thanks
It's unclear from your post just how much you already know about setting up a business but if you go into partnership with a 'qualified' business partner you will need to set the role boundaries very clearly at the start. You will be vulnerable if your partnership does not work and your 'partner' wishes to withdraw from the business. The decision about setting up on your own or in partnership is entirely one for you to make about how you prefer to work and whether or not there is someone with whom you feel you could work in this level of partnership etc etc. Go on the gut feeling.
You don't need social work or NVQ qualifications to be the owner or business manager but as you suggest you do need to employ staff in the right posts who do have the relevant qualifications. I believe your registered manager will need to have NVQ Level 4 (or at least be working towards this whilst in post). Have you tried the Ofsted website for more information about who needs what qualification in what post?
As you have some background in criminal justice and working with children you hopefully have some ideas of the qualities you want in staff. You will find both your unit staff and your registered manager through the normal job advertising routes (Community Care included).
Many thanks for your swift reply!
I would like to set the business up on my own and then employ a registered manager - so think that I will have a closer look at this option.
Can anyone offer me any other useful advice with regards to setting up this kind of unit?
Cheers
Hi Bobby,
I would be very interested if you have made any headway in your venture to open a childrens residential unit and if so how and who you have approached?
Myself and my husband currently work for our local county council looking after people with learning difficulties in our family home. We would dearly like to be able to open firstly a club for persons with learning difficulties but our ultimate goal is to be able to manage and run a day service offering 'life skills' to those whom attend. We both have gained a huge amount of experience and knowledge and to a certain degree manage our own business adhearing to policy and procedures set by government standards which we are monitored by them also.
many thanks
Been working in the residential child care sector for twenty years, first on the front line, and then for last ten as senior manager and director. I'm now setting up an organisational consultancy firm that helps with all aspects of team functioning in childrens homes. Happy to help, if any use,
cheers
GOOD LUCK IN YOUR NEW VENTURES! I AM CURRENTLY STILL WORKING IN THE ADULTS WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES SECTURE WITHIN PLACING ADULTS WITHIN FAMILY SETTINGS. IT IS A HUGE ORGANISATION AND NOW RUNS ACROSS THE UK AND GROWING AS IS MOST COST EFFECTIVE FOR LOCAL COUNCILS IN COMPARISON TO FUNDING AN INDIVIDUAL TO LIVE WITHIN RESIDENTIAL CARE . IT ALSO GIVES INDIVIDUALS THE CHANCE TO LIVE AS PART OF A FAMILY WITH SUPPORT PACKAGES TAILORED TO THEIR NEEDS.
VERY INTERESTED TO KNOW HOW YOU ARE DOING THIS ?
Best wishes
Hi Chrisso, I am also looking at possibilities of setting up a children's residential care home, can you get back to me with details on your services.
Thanks
Hi Chrisso - I would be very interested in your help. Please can you provide details of your services and a means of contact?
Bobby
Hi bobster- you can get hold of me on emma.chris@tiscali.co.uk
Bobby- I'm contactable on emma.chris@tiscali.co.uk
Hi,
Sounds like very interesting venture. I spent 5 years in residential and am now studying for SW degree. I have been reading up on the models of residential care abroad based on social pedagogy and would love to work within this field in the future as I still feel really passionate about changing how children's homes are run in the UK.
In Germany and Denmark for example, working in residential is seen as such an important job that the staff are highly qualified (more so than Social Work!)....so it feels to be awful that in our care homes the NVQ3 is as far as most people go......well 75% of them supposedly....so that's 25% without anything working with these vulnerable children.
Anyway i could 'rant' all day on that one!
Good luck and keep us posted
Hi Chrisso, looking to set up a childlrens home, is your consultancy up and running. Desperately need some help and advice.
Nuggitt
Hi Chrisso
I would like to start my own children's home and would like to meet with people like you can you help me with policies by any chance.
Where are you based Shaddy? Just wondered if your in the Midlands area?
Nuggit - same for you - where are you based? Fell free to contact me both of you if you would like to discuss setting up - I,m still in the planning stages but would be good to speak with someone in the same situation.
My email is mfinney4434@hotmail.com
Hi Bobby1
I am in Manchester currently working as a social worker with Looked after children.
Shaddy please send me an email to my address above . . . . . . . . would like to make contact if possible?
Hi Crisso
We're thinking of setting up a childrens residential unit.
I've just read a post about opening a unit that was very negative. I notice that you are opening an organisational consultantancy firm that helps with childrens homes.
Do you have any adivce and we may be interested in using your services.
Sue
Hello All
After working in care for 13 years and managing my own homes for 8, I finally took the plunge and I have just opened my first home which was registered on the 21st March. A 4 Bed EBD/LD.
It was a daunting task at first, but once you get your head round things it get easier.
Feel free to contact me if you was to bounce of ideas or discuss anything
Hi Mark,
I am a qualified social worker and myself and a colleague are thinking about setting up a children's home for young offenders. These really are just asperations and we have not taken made any concrete plans yet. I have been reading up alot on various forums, and have come across lots of negative posts. Many people are suggesting that setting up a home is difficult for those who are are not well established already, and that banks are not really willing to put money into this type of project. Is this the case from your experience? We would be really grateful for some advice. M email is DanielleD93@hotmail.com. Thank you.
DeeDee
Sueb - I know of a couple of individuals who could offer some excellent advice in this area. They both have experience of LA commissioning and running children's homes. I suggest you get 2 or three quotes once you know exactly what sort of consultancy you want. If you have an email address or can message me, I will send you some contact details.
Hello DeeDee,
It was not so long I was doing the same, and posting the same on forums as you I guess.
Don’t let the replies put you off. It is hard work, and a lengthy process, be under no illusion on that.
However, having spent several years developing plans, policies by myself and with the help of others, speaking to banks regards initial financing, looking for the right property, and finally getting the courage to take the plunge and putting my all into it.
I tried the banks, some are willing to lend, and I found that Natwest actually had a financing section specifically for social care.
Regards setting up a home, I came from the other side of the fence and was a home manager for far too many years, and knew that if it was in my hand I could do better.
It is hard work setting up and getting the Ofsted ticket, but it is much harder to get the first child in.
My advice and what worked for me was to make contact with all the placement officers and procurement managers on the provider list relevant to your area, then do it for all the other provider list that are next to your county, as long as you are forefront in their minds they may give you try but there are no certainties
I am happy to talk things though if you wish and give you any advice I can. The web site has my contact details.
Regards
Mark
www.harmonycs.co.uk
hi i have just seen ur link to ur website and found it great....I have worked with children/and familys for the past 7 years in differnet roles as well as having 4 of my own... i started college last year with the idea of becoming a social worker iam now starting my level 2 dimpolma in health and saftly and have had a big turn around and dicide that i would like to open a children homes...i just was wondering wat qualification i would need to work to for me to open and run a home any advice on were to start would be helpful xx
Hello,
In my opinion, and I can only advise from my experiences, If you are going to be the registered manager, then it would be good to need to have the NVQ 4 Registered Managers Award.
If you are going to set up yourself and employ everyone, a VERY costly approach for a new startup, you need nothing formal.
However I would suggest you speak to as many people in the industry before you go dive in and risk everything.
I was a home manager for 8 years and res worker for 5 before I started up my own, and I have only just done that.
I will be at the Community Care event for both days. If you want to discuss it more please contact me and we can speak then
Mark Raw
Harmony Childrens Services
07702 050 890
Hi. I have recently purchased a residential care home in Leicester. I have no prior experience in this sector.
I am looking at the different market sectors, adults with LD, Children with LD/ Behavioural problems.
In your post to Sueb on the 5/4/2011 you mentioned you know a couple of people who could help.
Can you please forward their contact details to me aniz@hottentot.co.uk
Aniz
Hi there, I am interested in your consultancy business. I am a social worker and AMHP with 22 years experience in all aspects of social work and I am currently working generically in an EDT. I am a builder and have built a small portfiolio of new houses that i rent out. I use one of these houses however to run a small after care business for 16 to 21 year olds leaving foster or residential care and I have been doing this since 2007. I specialize in providing young people with real life and employment skills so that they are appropriately prepared to become contributing members of society. I have been very succesful in this and have a high success rate.
I am now planning on opening a residential unit for 4 children with attachment based disorder with an ethos similar to what we currently provide for 16 to 21 year olds.
I am based in North Wales and I am interested in commissioning a consuultant to register a property with the registration body for Wales i.e CSSIW
Could you help