Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Acknowledged
The ministry must update the statutory guidance to make clear that placing families in accommodation...
Recommendation
The ministry must update the statutory guidance to make clear that placing families in accommodation where the need to share facilities with single male adults is not suitable and should work with councils to bring such placements to an end. (Recommendation, Paragraph 56) Lack of basic facilities and furnishings
Government response summary AI-generated
The government agrees on the importance of safeguarding and minimizing risks, stating current guidance prohibits B&Bs for families. They commit to engaging with the sector to consider whether further guidance amendments are needed to clarify that placements for children must minimize safeguarding risks.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government · verbatim extract
Acknowledged
50. We agree with the Committee that local authorities must ensure that safeguarding risks are identified and fully mitigated. 51. As set out in our response to Recommendation 7, current legislation and guidance is very clear that B&B accommodation is not suitable for families. We are determined to eliminate its use for families other than where no other accommodation is available, and then only for a maximum of six weeks. 52. We are clear that safeguarding risks must be minimised across all forms of accommodation and, where this is not possible, the accommodation should not be used. The Code of Guidance underlines that housing authorities have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. We will engage with the sector to consider whether we need to amend guidance to ensure it is absolutely clear that placing children in temporary accommodation must minimise safeguarding risks.
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