Residential care for children can be the right choice for some looked after children who need longer term stability.

Cambridgeshire has eight residential units run by the County Council.

Three cater for looked after children and young people with long-term needs - that is, they need a period of stability within a residential home to help them to move on.

The other five homes offer short-term care for children who have a disability.  Providing short stays (usually overnight, or day care) enables parents to have a break from their caring duties.  The change of scene is often beneficial to the children as well.

All our homes are staffed by well-qualified managers and workers and are regularly inspected by the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

Children and young people who come to stay in a home will have a Care Plan.  This explains why the child is receiving this kind of care, what will happen while they are at the home and what sahould happen at the end of their stay.

Where young people are in long-term care, we always try to make sure that they keep in touch with family and friends unless, for some reason, this would not be appropriate.  They will go to their own school, if they have a place, or we will help them get back into school.