Built with love: Creating a home where children can thrive

Linda Turner is Juno’s newest Registered Manager. She will be leading the team at Juno Runcorn when it opens in 2026. From creating a new home to building a culture of care, Linda shares her vision for a home where young people feel safe, valued and loved.

Hi Linda, how do you turn an empty house into a warm, loving home for children?

I’ve opened a new home from scratch before, so it’s not exactly a new experience. But this time, we’ve got our Experts by Experience working with us, so that’s been really nice. Juno is the first time I’ve worked like that. Having young people who’ve lived in care telling us what they would have wanted is so important. It’s one of the things that makes Juno different.

Where are things up to with the refurbishment of Juno’s first home in Runcorn?

A lot of the internal building work is done. Over the next few weeks, we’ll really start to see it take shape. The weather has been a challenge. It’s been so wet; things have been delayed. But once the building work’s done, we’ll move on to the finishing touches - picking colours, furnishings - the stuff that makes it a home.

Because it’s more than bricks and mortar. The colours, textures, and layout of the rooms are really important and part of what the home represents for the children. 

We want a dining area that’s multifunctional for arts and crafts, games and quiet time too. I don’t want posters everywhere saying, ‘children’s home.’ It should feel like a normal home. Health and safety stuff stays in the office. I feel strongly about that. I don’t want children to look back and remember walls covered in notices.

You’ve mentioned Juno Oxton as inspiration. What’s the vision for Runcorn?

We want the house to be like a little Oxton. It’s the same layout where the kitchen is the heart of the home - loads of natural light and big doors opening to the garden. We’ve got tri-fold doors, so it’ll feel open and airy.

I’ve kept pictures of the development to show the kids that it’s been built with love. We’ll make a board so they can see the before and after journey. That this home was created for them.

Getting the right team is just as important as the building. Who are you recruiting?

I always say, it takes a village to raise children. I want to build a team that care deeply about our children’s growth and hopes for the future. They’ll all be trauma-informed and will bring love and joy into Juno and the experience of our young people. That’s what we’re building.

What kind of people are you looking for?

People who are emotionally warm and self-aware. I’d like a mixed-gender team. Not everyone needs formal qualifications, but the right mindset is really important, looking through a trauma lens, understanding why behaviours happen. Good people, good role models. People who see this as more than a job – who know they’re shaping the futures of brilliant young people.

And what are you most looking forward to?

The laughter. The joy of kids feeling safe, feeling heard. Doing activities together, being part of a community. Our children won’t be taken out of their area. I want them to feel this home was created with love and for them. I don’t want them just to survive. I want them to thrive. To feel happy and educated, and that’s not just school. Education is everywhere: in life, in relationships, in experiences.

Throughout our conversation, two phrases keep coming up - ‘the heart of the home’ and ‘built with love’.  For Linda, these aren’t just slogans, they’re guiding principles for Juno Runcorn.

Come join the Juno Runcorn Team!

If you’re looking for a great place to work and want to be part of a team that makes a real difference, we’d love to hear from you. We're currently recruiting a number of roles for Juno Runcorn (coming in April 2026) to join our brand new team. Check out our vacancies.