Ellie Ames 16 November 2023

Homeless children left without care

Homeless children left without care image
Image: polya_olya / Shutterstock.com

Almost 6,500 16- and 17-year-olds presented as homeless to their local authority in England last year, according to new data.

Research by the children’s commissioner for England found that 61% of children who presented as homeless and who should have been taken into care did not get the care they were legally entitled to.

Just 40% of children who presented as homeless were provided with accommodation, with some reporting being turned away when they asked for help.

Of the children who received accommodation, most were supported under housing legislation rather than being taken into care. Some said they felt ‘manipulated’ into not accepting their care entitlement.

Only 14% of children who were taken into care were placed in a children’s home or in foster care. Most were instead housed in semi-independent accommodation for adults.

Children’s commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said: ‘If a 16-year-old cannot live with their own family, because they have been kicked out or their relationships have broken down, they are not “homeless”, they are a child in need of care.

‘At that point, children’s social care should be stepping in to make sure that a safe and loving home is found.

‘I am calling for all children at risk of homelessness, who cannot remain with family, to be taken into care as a default.’

Dame de Souza also called on the Government to urgently amend regulations to ensure that all children, regardless of legal status, can only be placed in regulated provision, and to develop a set of universal care standards.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Senior Social Worker - Adults Emergency Duty/Approved Mental Health Professional

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£46,206 - £55,992
Senior Social Worker / Approved Mental ... Twickenham, Greater London
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Care & Support Worker

West Northamptonshire Council
£13.52ph
36 hours per week (12 hours day shifts). Operating on a 4 week rolling rota. The current rota for this position does not include any weekend working. The team will provide quality care for our people, specialising in rehabilitation/reablement and sub-acu Northampton
Recuriter: West Northamptonshire Council

Graduate Trainee Emergency Planning and Resilience Consultant

Essex County Council
£27055.00 - £31829.00 per annum
Are you a Graduate, looking to become part of a crucial, efficient and high achieving team? England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Finance Officer- Transactional Services

Essex County Council
£34121.00 - £40142.00 per annum
Senior Finance Officer- Transactional ServicesFixed Term, Full Time£34,121 up to £40,142 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 9 - £35,412 - £39,152 (pre-progression) / Grade 11 - £40,777 - £45,091 (post-progression)
Applications are invited for a Social Worker within the Durham and Chester le Street Locality Team, temporary until 30 September 2026 subject to the r Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner