Children in the care system are often placed in homes far away from their families because of a lack of suitable places near to where they live, Ofsted has found.
Ofsted’s report, What types of needs do children’s homes offer care for?, finds that children with mental health problems, or experience of abuse and neglect, are likely to be living the furthest away from their home prior to coming into care, and above the average distance of 36 miles.
The research suggests that children are living far away from their families because homes are not evenly distributed across the regions of England, meaning supply does not match demand.
Just 5% of England’s children’s homes (7% of places) are located in London, but London local authorities placed 11% of all children living in homes.
In contrast, local authorities in the North West placed 19% of children living in children’s homes, but 25% of all homes (23% of places) are located in the region.
