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

Elliott, Martin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8062-6913, Purcell, Carl, Corliss, Cindy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0990-8798, Baginsky, Mary, Playle, Rebecca ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2989-1092, Rees, Alyson ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2363-4965 and Robling, Michael ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1004-036X 2026. Induction, training, and the registration of the residential childcare workforce. Residential Treatment for Children and Youth 10.1080/0886571x.2026.2682944

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Abstract

The recruitment, retention, and training of a suitable workforce is a common challenge across different children’s residential care systems. In the UK context, the workforce regulation has been expanded over the last two decades to respond to this challenge. Devolution has also led to 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 in 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) with those entering the workforce for the first time. Participants felt that the workforce registration is a mechanism for professionalizing 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 of training provided, with those registered more likely to report undertaking 5 or more hours a month on an average. However, we also noted that many reported having to complete training and qualifications in their own time.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education) Schools > Medicine Research Institutes & Centres > Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE) Research Institutes & Centres > Centre for Trials Research (CNTRR)
Additional Information:	License information from Publisher: LICENSE 1: URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, Start Date: 2026-06-08
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN:	0886-571X
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	22 June 2026
Date of Acceptance:	28 May 2026
Last Modified:	05 Aug 2026 01:53
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/187668

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