A strong, well-supported workforce is the foundation of effective children’s services. Recruiting and retaining high-quality staff is essential for ensuring stability, consistency, and excellence in service delivery. This chapter explores approaches being trialled across the sector to attract, develop, and retain talent, while fostering workplace environments that value and empower staff.
The initiatives highlighted in this chapter underscore the importance of investing in workforce sustainability. By embracing innovative recruitment strategies, fostering professional growth, and prioritising staff wellbeing, children’s services can create resilient, motivated teams empowered to deliver high quality support to children and families.
Projects featured in this chapter
Marketplace and Talent Bank
By East of England Local Government Association
A marketplace enabling trading companies owned by local authorities in the East of England to trade with other local authorities in the East of England. The Talent Bank has transformed the way councils in the East procure expertise, giving them easy and quick access to a host of leading consultants at the click of a button.
Employee ownership trust in residential childcare
By Halliwell Homes EOT Ltd.
Halliwell Homes transitioned to an employee ownership trust (EOT) model in 2022 to enhance staff engagement and stability within its residential child care services. This structure has led to improved staff retention, increased input into organisational practices, and the introduction of benefits such as tax-free dividends and wellbeing initiatives, aiming to provide consistent, high-quality care for children.
Social Work Academy by Gloucestershire County Council
A practice-led learning programme that develops practitioners and leaders across children’s services. This approach has driven increased stability in the workforce that ultimately achieves better outcomes for children, young people and their families.
Coram Innovation Incubator’s Ignite Programme
By Coram, a registered charity
A course designed to equip professionals in children’s services with the confidence and tools to develop, pilot, and implement innovative projects.
Social Work Academy by Hull County Council
A structured framework for social workers at all career stages, encompassing student placements, newly qualified social worker support, and ongoing professional development. The Academy emphasises leadership training, continuous learning, and partnerships with local universities to cultivate a skilled and resilient workforce dedicated to improving outcomes for children and families in Hull.
OnSide Talent Academy
By OnSide Youth Zones, a registered charity
A training and development program that aims to improve youth work and encourage staff to progress within the network. It’s designed to provide training and development opportunities for staff, recognizing and developing outstanding performers, and ensuring all employees can contribute to the network.
This report, the third to be produced by Coram’s Innovation Incubator, seeks to collate projects and approaches developed from across the sector in a bid to tackle key challenges faced by children’s services by thinking in new ways. It offers a space for lessons to be shared, products and approaches to be known about and the opportunity to celebrate the people effecting change across the country as a collective force for positive change.
Download the full report here.
About the Coram Innovation Incubator
Children’s chances in life still depend on where they live and who they live with, and 2.3 million children are living with risk in the UK. In the digital-first generation, up to 1 in 6 children face mental health challenges. Resources available do not reflect the scale of need and there are unacceptable variations in availability and quality of services, education and childcare.
The Coram Innovation Incubator exists to meet these challenges. As a membership organisation for leaders and managers within children’s services, we support our members to develop, test, evaluate and scale innovative solutions that improve the quality and impact of children’s services. We facilitate, celebrate and catalyse innovations that lead to significant and sustained impacts on children’s life chances.
Innovation is the creation or adoption of new ideas, methods, or products. It encompasses both technological advancements and novel approaches in various fields. Innovation is the catalyst for positive change. It fuels progress, fosters economic development and shapes our future.
“Being part of the Coram Innovation Incubator has been absolutely beneficial to us. We have learned so much along the way and the generating and sharing of ideas, has encouraged innovation within our LA.” –Aneesa Kaprie, Transformation Lead, London Borough of Bromley
How you can innovate further
Become a member of the Coram Innovation Incubator with access to innovation coaching and innovation project partnership.
Attend our upcoming event: From Insight to Impact: AI, Intersectionality, and the Future of Children’s Services on Monday 15 September 2025.
Get in touch with us to tell us about any promising innovations you’ve seen from across the sector.
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