I am a research consultant specialising in children policy and practice. My Fellowship focuses on improving the experiences of children in residential care.

The residential childcare system in England is not working, with shortages of places, rising costs and provision that fails to meet children's needs. The Government has recently accepted the recommendation of the Children's Social Care Review to expand the delivery role for the not-for-profit sector and to strengthen regional planning to improve commissioning of places.

I will explore the residential childcare system in Italy, where provision is delivered on a not-for-profit basis and involves regional planning. I will investigate if a system where care is delivered by community-based not-for-profit organisations and co-ordinated regionally can deliver a more adequate supply of places, and whether it is more cost-effective and responsive to children's needs.

As England experiments with new ways of planning and delivering residential care to improve children's experiences, the study will generate learning about the challenges, opportunities and benefits of a bigger role for the not-for-profit sector and stronger regional collaboration.