Ofsted issues warning against placement of vulnerable children in unregistered homes

Ofsted has warned that “too often”, children subject to deprivation of liberty (DoL) orders are placed in illegal unregistered settings without external oversight.

Ofsted notes that children subject to DoL orders “have complex needs and require high levels of skilled care and supervision”.

It said new guidance published today (14 August) makes clear that settings offering children’s home services for children subject to DoL orders should register with Ofsted in England or the Care Inspectorate Wales.

“The court order does not exempt the provider from being registered. Operating a children’s home without registration remains illegal," it added.

Ofsted has also updated its guidance on how it prioritises applications to register children’s homes when local authorities need urgent placements for children.

“This means that providers accommodating children who have been placed by a local authority in an ‘emergency’, children who are subject to a DoL order and/or unaccompanied asylum seeking children, can have their application expedited,” it revealed.

Yvette Stanley, Ofsted’s Director for Social Care said: “It’s unacceptable that some of our most vulnerable children with very complex needs are living in places with the least oversight; where we do not know if they are safe, or if the people caring for them are suitable or skilled enough to meet their needs.

“We know that many children deprived of their liberty are placed in illegal unregistered settings. It is important that providers register and local authorities play their part to ensure vulnerable children are only placed in registered settings.”

According to the latest data collected by Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO), a total of 1,249 children have been subject to Deprivation of Liberty (DoL) applications at the national DoLs court since its launch in July 2022.