New partnership to provide Appropriate Places of Care for children and young people in Cheshire and Merseyside
Monday, 5 October 2026
A new partnership between the NHS and local authorities across Cheshire and Merseyside will provide more appropriate care for children and young people with complex needs.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is contributing towards the funding of five Appropriate Places of Care (APOC) homes across the region to help more young people access the right care for their needs.
The initiative brings together NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, the region’s nine local authorities, the ‘Beyond’ Children and Young People’s Transformation Programme and Directors of Children’s Services to address a long-standing gap in provision.
The APOC programme demonstrates a different approach by developing a network of Ofsted-registered children’s homes - supported by multidisciplinary health and social care teams. The homes will provide intensive, therapeutic and trauma-informed support, helping to stabilise children and young people and plan for their longer-term needs.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Chief Executive Liz Bishop said:
“This programme is a fantastic example of mature system collaboration and shared responsibility for children and young people whose needs often cross traditional organisational boundaries.
“APOC demonstrates cross-system corporate parenting in practice, and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is believed to be the first Integrated Care Board to take forward such an approach.”
The programme follows the Towards a Better Future: North-West CAMHS Independent Review in 2021, which identified a cohort of children and young people who struggled to access appropriate care.
Many young people may not be suitable for Tier 4 inpatient CAMHS provision, but may also be unable to live safely at home or access suitable regulated social care provision. As a result, some experience hospital stays, emergency department attendances or placements in unregulated settings.
Warrington’s Complex Needs Hub at Aviary House is already operational, with further provision being developed in Liverpool, Knowsley and Cheshire East - including planned regional crisis provision supported by the Cheshire and Merseyside Provider Collaborative.
Mark Palethorpe, Chief Executive of St Helens Borough Council and Chair of the Cheshire and Merseyside Directors of Children’s Services Forum, said:
“This is a pioneering collaboration that demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations unite behind a shared commitment to improving the lives of children and young people.
“No single organisation can meet these challenges alone, but by pooling our expertise and resources, we can deliver better outcomes for children, young people and families across Cheshire and Merseyside.
“As a council, ensuring children and young people have the best possible start in life is one of our top priorities, and this programme supports that ambition.”