Welcare highlights the impactful work of Dr. Mark Kerr, CEO of the Children’s Homes Association, emphasizing their collaborative efforts to advocate for exemplary residential childcare.
Dr. Mark Kerr, Chief Executive Officer of the Children’s Homes Association (CHA), exemplifies what it means to turn lived experience into lasting impact. As someone who grew up within the care system, Dr. Kerr brings to his role not only professional expertise but an authentic, personal understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by care-experienced children.
His story is one of remarkable resilience. From navigating the care system as a young person to becoming one of the most respected voices in UK residential childcare, Dr. Kerr’s trajectory is a powerful reminder of what is possible when the right support meets unwavering determination.
Driven by a deep commitment to systemic change, Dr. Kerr pursued academic excellence — culminating in a PhD focused on measuring and improving outcomes in residential child care. His research, widely respected within the social care and academic communities, has informed practice models and strategic frameworks now adopted across the sector.
But beyond his credentials lies a greater mission: to ensure that children in care are not only protected, but empowered. Underpinning Dr. Kerr’s leadership is a steadfast belief that every child deserves to be heard, understood, and surrounded by adults who truly care. His work reflects a deep respect for the lived experience of young people, placing their voices at the heart of policy-making and service design.
As CEO of the CHA, Dr. Kerr leverages his unique perspective to advocate on behalf of over 1,800 children’s homes, representing thousands of young lives. His focus on evidence-based decision-making ensures that reforms are not only well-intentioned but genuinely effective. Whether influencing legislation, guiding best practice, or mentoring future leaders in the sector, Dr. Kerr is a catalyst for real and meaningful change.
In recognising Dr. Kerr’s journey — from care to leadership — we celebrate not only personal achievement but the broader message that lived experience is a source of strength, not stigma. His presence at the helm of the CHA signals a new era of leadership: one grounded in empathy, driven by data, and relentlessly focused on giving children in care the future they deserve.
The Children’s Homes Association: A Pillar of Support for the Sector
Under the transformational leadership of Dr. Mark Kerr, the Children’s Homes Association (CHA) has become an indispensable force within the UK’s residential childcare landscape. As the national membership body representing more than 1,800 children’s homes across England and Wales, the CHA serves as a powerful unifying voice — advocating for quality, consistency, and compassion in care.
What sets the CHA apart is its unique positioning at the intersection of policy, practice, and lived experience. It acts as a trusted conduit between frontline providers, Ofsted, the Department for Education, and other key stakeholders — shaping national conversations and regulatory frameworks with evidence-led insight and a child-centred focus.
At the heart of the CHA’s mission is a clear and compelling purpose: to ensure that every child in care receives exemplary residential support, not just adequate provision. This is reflected in their relentless pursuit of innovation — from promoting therapeutic models of care and staff development frameworks, to addressing critical sector issues like placement stability, workforce retention, and the use of unregulated settings.
Through robust sector collaboration, the CHA facilitates knowledge-sharing, delivers practical resources, and champions the professionalisation of residential care. Its members benefit from a network of support that not only elevates individual organisations, but strengthens the sector as a whole.
Dr. Kerr’s leadership has been pivotal in advancing this agenda. Drawing on his own care-experience and academic expertise, he has brought renewed credibility, authenticity, and strategic clarity to the Association’s work. His ability to bridge the gap between grassroots challenges and high-level policy makes him a rare and respected voice in the sector.
For organisations like Welcare, the CHA provides not only representation, but a platform to contribute meaningfully to the future of residential childcare. As the sector faces complex regulatory, financial, and cultural shifts, the CHA stands as a pillar of integrity and influence — setting the standard for what residential care should be: safe, nurturing, innovative, and profoundly human.
Welcare and the Children’s Homes Association: A Collaborative Endeavour for Systemic Change
Welcare recently had the privilege of engaging in a deeply insightful and forward-looking meeting with Dr. Mark Kerr, Chief Executive Officer of the Children’s Homes Association (CHA). As the leading voice for residential childcare providers in England and Wales, the CHA plays a pivotal role in shaping the standards, guidance, and strategic direction of children’s social care nationally.
During this significant meeting, Welcare and the CHA explored a wide range of sector-critical topics — from raising the bar on residential care outcomes to addressing long-standing structural challenges in the system. The dialogue was rooted in shared values: child-first care, trauma-informed practices, and a united commitment to bettering the lives of looked-after children across the UK.
Key themes included:
The future of therapeutic care in children’s homes, including evidence-led models such as Equine Therapy and CBT.
The urgent need for stronger pathways to independence and supported living for care leavers.
Policy recommendations to present to Ofsted, local authorities, and central government — aimed at ensuring consistency, sustainability, and innovation across residential settings.
The importance of amplifying the voices of care-experienced children and young people in decision-making processes.
This collaborative session marks a powerful alignment between two purpose-driven organisations — both committed to reshaping children’s residential care in the UK for the better. For Welcare, it also reinforced our mission to be a progressive, evidence-based, and values-led provider of therapeutic children’s homes.
As a not-for-profit provider, Welcare sees this partnership as a cornerstone of our strategy to influence sector-wide improvements, advocate for best practices, and ultimately co-create a care system that places dignity, healing, and opportunity at its heart.
We look forward to building on this relationship with Dr. Kerr and the CHA — with joint aims to push bold ideas forward, elevate children’s voices, and deliver real, lasting change.
Looking Ahead: A Shared Commitment to Sector Excellence
At Welcare, we believe that real change happens through purposeful partnerships — and our engagement with Dr. Mark Kerr and the Children’s Homes Association (CHA) is a testament to that belief. We are deeply enthusiastic about the road ahead, and the shared commitment to building a future where every child in care receives not just support, but opportunity.
The landscape of residential childcare in the UK is evolving rapidly. It faces challenges around regulation, workforce retention, therapeutic consistency, and the persistent gap in provision for older children and care leavers. Through our collaboration with the CHA, Welcare is committed to playing an active role in shaping those conversations — both on the ground and at policy level.
Together, we are championing initiatives that centre the individual needs of children in care, promote innovative care models such as therapeutic and trauma-informed approaches, and push for fairer, more sustainable frameworks for providers. These efforts are not abstract: they directly impact the everyday lives of vulnerable young people and the staff who care for them.
Welcare is especially proud to align with Dr. Kerr’s vision — one that values authentic lived experience, champions data-driven reform, and insists on sector accountability. As we continue to grow our network of children’s homes and expand our offer of equine therapy, supported living, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), we do so with confidence that we are moving in step with national best practice.
Celebrating leaders like Dr. Mark Kerr is more than recognition — it is a reaffirmation of Welcare’s own core values: empathy, excellence, innovation, and integrity. His story embodies the belief that children in care should never be defined by their past, but empowered by the support and opportunities we provide.
We are excited about the future. About influencing Ofsted’s evolving care standards, advising local authorities on effective pathways to independence, and continuing to learn from peers across the sector through the CHA’s powerful platform.
In unity with the CHA, Welcare remains unwavering in our pursuit of a care system that is compassionate, evidence-led, and above all — built around children’s voices.
Referenced Resources & Sources
Children’s Homes Regulations & Quality Standards (DfE)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-homes-regulations-including-quality-standards-guide
