William Eichler 01 February 2022

Teenagers should not be placed in unregulated accommodation, PM told

Teenagers should not be placed in unregulated accommodation, PM told image
Image: Ilya Antropov/Shutterstock.com.

The Prime Minister has been urged to reverse a law that allows 16- and 17-year-olds to be placed in unregulated accommodation.

Last September, the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England)(Amendment) Regulations 2021 came into force prohibiting the placement of ‘looked after’ children – children in care – who are under the age of 16 in unregulated children’s homes, such as bedsits, flats and shared housing.

This amendment left 16- and 17-year-old children who are in care or leaving care in a position where they might be placed in unregulated accommodation.

A delegation of adults who were in care as children will today present a petition signed by more than 10,500 care experienced people and their families calling on the PM to ensure that every child in care is placed in a regulated home until they are at least 18.

The local authority practice of paying companies to accommodate children in care in shared houses, hostels, bedsits, flats and even hotels and caravan parks has mushroomed over the past decade – an increase of 89% between March 2010 and March 2020.

During this same period, the number of children in care aged 16 and 17 grew by 38%. According to the delegation, 22 children in care aged 16 and 17 died in unregulated accommodation between 2018 and 2020.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

North Northamptonshire Council
£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recuriter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Capital Delivery Manager

South Wales Trunk Road Agent
£50,788 - £52,805
To be responsible for the implementation of Welsh Government’s Renewal and Upgrade programme. Baglan, Port Talbot
Recuriter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Senior Engineer x 2

Hounslow London Borough Council
£47,532 –£55,620 per annum
Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. Hounslow (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recuriter: Hounslow London Borough Council

Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI Chelmsford

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £27653.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI ChelmsfordFixed Term, Part Time£25,081 to £27,653 Per Annum, Full Time EquivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Head of SEN Assessment & Resolution

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
£77136 - £88230 per annum
Shape a fairer future for children with special educational needs.As Head of SEN Assessment and Resolution at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chel England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Linkedin Banner