EX RCC Manager & now PHD Student Ben O'Farrell : The status & state of the sector in Scotland

n this episode, I'm joined by Dan Crowley for a fascinating and heartfelt conversation about the realities of creating children's homes where young people can truly thrive. Dan shares some of the hidden insights into the sector, from how people find suitable properties and finance children's homes, to the challenges of setting them up and making them work. But we also explore something much deeper: the importance of love, relationships and creating a genuine sense of belonging for children who need it most. It's an honest, insightful conversation that brings together the practical realities of running children's homes with the human values that really matter.

I recently sat down with Clive Shirland for a conversation about something I think we need to keep talking about — the future of residential care and what we can do better for children and young people. We talked about the things that really matter. Do we have the right approaches? Are we giving staff and services the resources they actually need? Could mentoring and coaching make a difference? And when we use the word “outstanding”, what should that really mean for the child or young person experiencing the care? For me, one of the biggest questions is what happens beyond care. How do we help young people build a future that they can genuinely look forward to? Not just getting by, but having opportunities, relationships, confidence and people around them who believe in what they can achieve. Clive brings his own experience and perspective to the conversation, and we don't pretend to have all the answers. That's part of the reason for having these conversations in the first place. If you work in residential care, lead a service, support young people, or simply care about where the sector is heading, I hope you'll give it a listen.

I talk with Dominy Roe who is managing director of Transfom Uk .

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kaz Jack, a Registered Manager with Pebbles Care, based in Penrith, a town close to the English–Scottish border. In this conversation, we explore the importance of relational practice, why connection should always come before correction, and the psychology behind working in a trauma-informed way. Kaz shares valuable insights into how the language we use can either support or inadvertently trigger young people, and explains why thoughtful communication is such a powerful tool in residential child care. What stood out most to me was getting a real sense of who Kaz is as a person and how her values, authenticity, and compassion shape her leadership and practice. It's a conversation full of practical wisdom and reflection that I think will resonate with anyone working with children and young people. So, without further ado, I hope you enjoy this episode of The Residential Child Care Points of View Podcast Global. Here's my conversation with Kaz Jack.

In this episode I talk to Angela Griffiths who is an independent consultant and trainer about her career & her soon to be published book about leadership and management within residential childcare settings. The yet untitled book offers those with experience and those new to the role with an essential guide to leadership and management . I’m sure you will agree with me that this is a largely unexplored but important role within RCC settings and as such you will take lots from this interview .