Cabinet has today approved the Council to participate in the Cheshire and Merseyside Regional Care Co-operative (RCC) Foundation Phase.
Participation will ensure that Knowsley is able to influence the design of future regional arrangements rather than respond to arrangements developed by others.
Regional Care Co-operatives are intended to reform the way homes for cared for children are planned, negotiated, commissioned and developed across regions, bringing together Local Authorities and partners to increase collective purchasing power and influence.
The Foundation Phase will focus on developing and assessing options for future governance, commissioning and operating arrangements.
The Cheshire and Merseyside consortium comprises Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Warrington and Wirral together with Cheshire and Merseyside ICB (Integrated Care Board).
Cheshire and Merseyside were one of five successful bids which also included East Midlands, West Midlands, London and the Northeast. The five new Regional Care Co-operatives are in addition to the Greater Manchester and Southeast pathfinders which were approved in 2024/25.
Cllr Sean Donnelly, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said “The Regional Care Co-operative will be designed to secure sufficient high-quality homes for cared for children, working on a regional footprint to create a more planned, collaborative and efficient system that delivers better outcomes for children. This includes ensuring children and young people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. I look forward to seeing the foundation phase progressing.”