Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Accepted
Out-of-area temporary accommodation placements cause devastating impacts and lack reliable data.
Conclusion
Out-of-area temporary accommodation placements have a devastating impact on families, leaving them far from their extended family, friends, and support network, and causing disruption to children’s education. There is a lack of reliable data on how out-of-area placements are currently used, as local authorities are not required to report detailed information to the Department on the outcomes for families. Whilst we understand the Department’s preference to take a “partnership approach”, we believe it must undertake more formalised monitoring of local authorities’ use of out- of-area placements. (Conclusion, Paragraph 60)
Government Response Summary
The government stated it has laid provision in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to introduce a single unique identifier (SUI) nationally to improve information sharing, and is considering further policy options across departments to improve the lives of children in temporary accommodation.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
28. Keeping children safe is a priority for this Government. Practitioners supporting children and families must find, receive and share relevant information to assess risks effectively. A consistent identifier can help improve information sharing, but all barriers to poor information sharing must be addressed. We have taken swift action to lay provision in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to introduce a single unique identifier (SUI) nationally. 29. Across the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Department for Health and Social Care and the Department for Education, we are considering policy options on this issue to improve the lives of children in temporary accommodation.