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<p>The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care and the Competition and Markets
Authority (CMA) recommended that the government introduces a network of Regional Care
Cooperatives (RCCs) to plan, commission and deliver children’s social care placements
in fostering, children’s homes and secure homes on a regional basis. The department
has committed to trialling this approach with two RCC pathfinders to build an evidence
base before future rollout.</p><p> </p><p>The department’s long-term vision is that
RCCs will help improve commissioning and sufficiency, and better enable local authorities
to meet the needs of the children in their care, whilst reforming foster parent recruitment
and retention.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the department is investing £36 million
to deliver a fostering and retention programme so foster care is available for more
children who need it. This will boost approvals of foster carers, as well as taking
steps to retain existing foster carers. Darlington local authority, as part of the
North East pathfinder, were one of the first local authorities to take part in this
programme.</p>
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