Safe care through complex times.
The right support for what comes next.

A message from our Founding Managing Director and Responsible Individual

I’m Sam, a Registered Social Worker with over 20 years’ experience in children’s care. Over the years, I’ve worked across all stages of care, from supporting children day to day in their homes and managing homes as a registered manager, to running fostering services and working for local authorities to find placements and commission the right support. I’ve worked in child in need and child protection services, led contextual safeguarding teams and been the person on the phone on a Friday night, trying to find a child a safe bed. I understand how much those moments matter, both to the people making the calls and to the child waiting for an answer.

I’ve helped build homes that achieved outstanding Ofsted ratings, managed care under Deprivation of Liberty orders and written policies around unregulated and unregistered provision. I also train others in restorative practice and PACE, drawing on DDP. That experience has given me the confidence to make difficult decisions, but also to stay curious, listen and keep asking what we can do differently for a child.

I wanted to create Nestra to work closely with local authorities and social work teams, finding practical ways to meet children’s needs. That includes buying homes in areas sometimes dismissed as “too expensive” or “too posh”, because children in care deserve access to those communities and opportunities too. Smaller, solo and dual homes give us more room to focus on the child who needs us. Matching still matters, but I don’t want it to dominate every conversation. I want us to ask: can we help this young person? Can we give them a safe place to begin making the changes that could lead to a better future?

The part I love most is seeing children get to be children. Some want to be in every meeting and have a say in every decision. Others want to play, learn, make mistakes and know someone will help them get back up. We need to make room for both. Children don’t always want a running commentary on everything they do. They want us to notice the little things, offer a hug when they want one, give praise that feels genuine and be someone they can relate to and rely on.

I care deeply about how we write about children and recognise their progress. Getting up on time or helping make the tea might be a big step, and that deserves to be noticed. Children aren’t tick boxes; their needs and achievements will all look different.

My training in social pedagogy has also shaped how I think about risk. Alongside keeping children safe, we need to help them understand our worries, learn about risk and build confidence in keeping themselves safe. We cannot protect children from making mistakes but we can give them the tools and skills to notice what risk is and how to keep themselves safe from harm. We can also be there when things go wrong and be curious about what happened, nurturing them and empowering them whilst we do.

I know the road can be bumpy and the way forward isn’t always straightforward. We’re building strong, tenacious teams who will stick with children through difficult times and work hard to give them the best care. We also recognise that our homes are stepping stones. When the time is right, we want to help children return to their families, move into foster care or take their next step towards greater independence. Part of caring is helping them feel ready to fly the nest, and making sure they know they still matter to us when they do.