Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has renewed her call for urgent action to tackle the use of unregulated children’s homes, describing them as a serious safeguarding failure that leaves some of society’s most vulnerable children at risk of exploitation, abuse and long-term harm.
Since becoming aware of an unregulated children’s provision operating in County Durham, mostly from out of area operators and placements, PCC Allen has led a determined campaign to expose the dangers posed by placements that fall outside established regulatory frameworks and sometimes in Airbnbs or other rented accommodation, and to press for meaningful national reform.
Driven by concerns for the safety and wellbeing of children in care, she has raised the issue with senior Government ministers and national safeguarding leaders, including the Secretary of State for Education, the Home Secretary, the Minister for Policing and Crime, the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, the Children’s Commissioner for England, Ofsted Chief Inspector, local authorities and Members of Parliament.
PCC Allen has called for a package of urgent measures to better protect children, including:
- Closing the legislative and regulatory loopholes that allow children to be placed in unregistered provision so that it is never used, even in a last case scenario.
- Introducing consistent safeguarding standards across all settings accommodating children, including enhanced DBS checks for all staff.
- Strengthening enforcement powers for Ofsted and partner agencies to identify, investigate and, where necessary, close illegal provision quickly.
- Increasing transparency and accountability around placement decisions.
- Publishing a clear timetable to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of unregulated placements.
- Stimulate the market so that more foster carers and regulated care homes are available.
In response to her lobbying, the Government has highlighted its £2.4 billion investment in the Families First Partnership programme, aimed at keeping families together wherever possible. Plans are also underway to create an additional 10,000 foster placements and reform children’s social care commissioning arrangements.
Correspondence from the previous Minister for Safeguarding Jess Phillips MP confirmed that there is recognition of the risks associated with unregulated/illegal homes and work is ongoing to strengthen enforcement.
A forthcoming National Inquiry into child sexual exploitation will consider:
- Systemic safeguarding failures
- Local operational challenges
- Best practice in protecting vulnerable children
Furthermore, OFSTED confirmed that it was setting up a dedicated team to tackle the problem on a national basis, prompted by PCC Allen’s letter to Luke Akehurst MP.
PCC Allen has also been briefed on national work to address the issue of unregistered children’s homes and has pledged to closely scrutinise progress to ensure commitments translate into tangible improvements for vulnerable young people.
PCC Joy Allen said: “I will not stop fighting for those children who need our protection most. As Police and Crime Commissioner, I see first-hand the devastating consequences when vulnerable children are not adequately safeguarded. Too often, this can lead to exploitation, abuse and lifelong trauma.
“This is not simply a matter of reforming a system. It is about ensuring that every child in the care of the state is afforded the same fundamental protections, regardless of where they are placed. These children may also be victims of crime or abuse, and they should have their voice here.
“No child should be placed in an unregulated or illegal home, and no child should be sent hundreds of miles away to unsuitable accommodation without the host authority Director of Children’s Services being notified. These decisions are too important to be made without proper oversight and accountability.
“Children who have already experienced instability and adversity deserve safety, care and support, not environments that leave them exposed to further risk. We must do better for them and however uncomfortable the facts may be, those responsible for these children need to act on them and make it right.”
The Commissioner is also urging local authorities to strengthen decision-making around care placements and ensure children’s needs remain at the heart of every placement decision.
Speaking on the responsibility of councils as corporate parents, PCC Allen added: “We cannot continue to place children in accommodation that is not appropriate for their needs. Every organisation involved in a child’s care has a duty to put their safety and wellbeing first. We must work together to make sure vulnerable children receive the protection, stability and opportunities they deserve.”
