More than 90% of local authorities “frequently” struggle to find homes for children with complex needs: Ofsted
Most local authorities struggle to find homes for children with complex needs, with children sometimes waiting years for a suitable placement, a report by Ofsted has revealed.
The report, informed by a national survey of local authorities and children’s home providers across England, found that children with complex needs are “frequently” placed out of area, experience unplanned placement moves, have referrals rejected by homes and/or are served notice by their setting.
Further, the lack of suitable homes means local authorities are “resorting to placements they do not want to use”, such as unregistered placements.
Ofsted warned that many children are living alone in homes, often with high numbers of staff, “which risks leaving them isolated and vulnerable to mistreatment”.
Increasingly, children who are seen as a risk to themselves or others are deprived of their liberty. The report notes: “Sometimes, these children are placed in unregistered homes because no registered alternatives are available. The lack of sufficient and suitable places in secure children’s homes and appropriate mental health provisions is contributing to this.”
Responding to the report, ADCS President John Pearce noted that although local authorities are the only purchasers of placements, providers can “pick and choose” which referrals to accept or not, “with some providers increasingly reluctant to accept children with highly complex needs, as they perceive it may impact their Ofsted rating”.
He added: “We recognise Ofsted does not want its work to impact on a local authority’s ability to place children, however, this can be an unintended consequence of the current regulatory framework supported by inspection.”
In its report, Ofsted said: “We are keen to address homes’ concerns and reassure them that being unable to evidence outcomes for these children [with complex needs] will not negatively affect their inspection outcome. The inspection grades among homes that care for children with complex needs are no lower than among all homes generally.”
Pearce identified an “urgent” need for a national placements strategy to ensure the right homes are available in the right places for all children who need them, alongside a “comprehensive review” of the regulatory system and care standards, “with a view to achieving a more fluid system that better meets the needs of children”.
He continued: “When a place in a secure children’s home or inpatient mental health bed is required but not available, local authorities have no choice but to create bespoke arrangements within the community, while waiting for a permanent placement to become available. This is always a last resort, but the report demonstrates that this tailored provision can be thoughtful, considered and crucially work well for the child.
“Local authorities are doing what they can to meet children’s needs, such as establishing their own children’s homes to accommodate children with complex needs, but we need government’s support with this. A wholly new approach and therapeutic offer is required for children with acute needs, as is a range of appropriate step-down arrangements in the community so that children can be successfully reintegrated into the community when they are ready.”
Lottie Winson
