LGA responds to announcement that unregulated accommodation for vulnerable children under 16 will be banned

Cllr Judith Blake, Chair of the LGA's Children and Young People Board, said: “Today’s announcements are positive steps towards ensuring that all children in care live in good quality homes that meet their needs and help them to thrive."

View allChildren and young people articles

Responding to the Education Secretary’s announcement that placing vulnerable children under the age of 16 in unregulated accommodation will become illegal from September, Cllr Judith Blake, Chair of the Local Government Association's Children and Young People Board, said:

“Today’s announcements are positive steps towards ensuring that all children in care live in good quality homes that meet their needs and help them to thrive.

“A key driver for the increasing use of unregulated placements for children under 16 is a lack of suitable regulated homes. The government’s commitment to funding to increase children’s homes provision, which we have previously called for, is therefore a helpful recognition of the pressures on placements. 

“However, this funding will not be available immediately, and councils are keen to work with government to quickly develop the places they will need to meet these requirements.  

“We remain convinced of the need for wider regulatory reform to deliver the homes children need, alongside investment in workforce and support services, and urge the Chair of the independent review of children’s social care to look closely at these issues.” 

Ends