Induction, training, and the registration of the residential childcare workforce

The recruitment, retention and training of a suitable workforce is a common challenge across different children’s residential care systems. In the UK context workforce regulation has been expanded over the last two decades to respond this challenge. Devolution has also seen significant divergence between the UK nations in how it is applied and to whom. This paper explores the experiences of induction, training, and continuing professional development of residential childcare workers working in Wales, where registration of the workforce has been in place for over 15 years, and England where it has yet to be introduced Data were collected through an online survey of those working in children’s homes in both England and Wales (n=899) and semi-structured interviews in both countries (n=32) of those entering the workforce for the first time. Participants felt that workforce registration is a mechanism for professionalising the workforce and influencing the amount and types of training provided to workers by employers. We found some limited evidence of a positive impact of registration on the average number of hours training provided, with those registered more likely to report undertaking 5 or more hours a month on average. However, we also noted that many reported having to complete training and qualifications in their own time.