Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 44
44
Accepted in Part
Unacceptable placement of vulnerable children in unsuitable homes, requiring full care provision for all.
Recommendation
It is unacceptable that vulnerable children are being placed in unsuitable homes such as barges and caravans with little or no support. The new regulatory and inspection regime is an important step in the right direction, but the Department for Education needs to go further and ensure that all children under 18 receive care where they live, rather than simply support. (Conclusion, Paragraph 104)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees unsuitable settings are unacceptable and points to existing Quality Standards, but states it is focusing on updating out-dated National Minimum Standards and working with Ofsted on inspection reform, rather than developing a single universal set of standards as implied by the recommendation for all children to receive care.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
We fully appreciate the need for there to be high standards for children, wherever they live. Settings such as barges, caravans and B&Bs, as referenced in evidence to the Committee, are not considered suitable places for children in care to live, as they are extremely unlikely to meet the Quality Standards as set out in the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023. Additionally, we would clarify that the £145 million spent in supporting semi-independent providers to register, quoted in paragraph 103 of the Committee’s report, comprised of £123m to local authorities for any additional burdens the introduction of registration posed them, £19m for Ofsted to develop the registration and inspection process and a £4 million contract in place with National Children’s Bureau (NCB) to support new providers. Rather than prioritising development of a single universal set of standards, we are focusing on options for updating some of the most out-dated National Minimum Standards to ensure they reflect the latest ambitious goals we have for children and to bring them into better alignment with more recently developed standards. We are also committed to working with Ofsted on their social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) reform to support settings being held to proper account through inspections.