How is this happening? children’s homes

[CHiSOCG]

Our government, children’s services, councils - failing our most vulnerable children. Heartbreaking that this core service is privatised, commercialised. Our most at risk lives. These poor children

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/f48f71fa-db90-11ec-bcbd-e35b52e0266c?shareToken=c19fe0bb7c67a28020366adc87071550

It'd awful. These children are so vulnerable and to be placed in such poor excused of a 'home' is totally inexcusable. I think councils are not looking at the bigger picture and often 'troubled' children are sent to who ever agrees to taking them on.

The CMA published its market study into children‘s social care in England, Scotland and Wales recently, it’s an interesting read, and found that whilst profits in private sector facilities are higher than might be expected in a well functioning market, the actual fees they charge to councils are not materially higher than the cost to councils of providing their own placements: www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-social-care-market-study-final-report

The crux of the matter is that it’s not a well functioning market and doesn’t meet the needs of vulnerable children because there aren’t enough providers overall, there aren’t enough providers in the areas they’re most needed, and there particularly aren’t enough providers who can take on challenging children and those with the most complex needs.
Yes, councils sometimes do have to send children to “whoever will take them on”, because of inadequate provision, largely driven by a lack of centralised planning.

Very useful - I’ll read. Still so sad that there is no other option for these children.