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Under-16s unregulated placements must be 'eliminated' | Under-16s unregulated placements must be 'eliminated' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The education secretary has written to council leaders in England to express "concern" over the use of unregulated accommodation to house under-16s. | The education secretary has written to council leaders in England to express "concern" over the use of unregulated accommodation to house under-16s. |
Gavin Williamson said these placements for children in care should be "eliminated". | Gavin Williamson said these placements for children in care should be "eliminated". |
This type of accommodation is not registered to deliver care. | This type of accommodation is not registered to deliver care. |
But in October, Newsnight found that more than 100 children under 16 in England and Wales were living in such places, on any given night. | But in October, Newsnight found that more than 100 children under 16 in England and Wales were living in such places, on any given night. |
Mr Williamson said he could not "imagine a circumstance under which a child under the age of 16 should be living in an independent or semi-independent setting". | Mr Williamson said he could not "imagine a circumstance under which a child under the age of 16 should be living in an independent or semi-independent setting". |
Unregulated accommodation is often flats and houses with support workers on site or visiting, but can also be hostels and lodgings or even hotels and holiday parks. | Unregulated accommodation is often flats and houses with support workers on site or visiting, but can also be hostels and lodgings or even hotels and holiday parks. |
Running an unregistered home that provides support but not care for children under 16 is not illegal. | Running an unregistered home that provides support but not care for children under 16 is not illegal. |
But it is potentially a criminal offence to run a children's home that provides care without registering with the regulator Ofsted or the Welsh Care Inspectorate. | But it is potentially a criminal offence to run a children's home that provides care without registering with the regulator Ofsted or the Welsh Care Inspectorate. |
"I am concerned about the number of children under 16 placed in settings that are not registered with Ofsted, so should not be delivering care, and I am certain that you will want to pay immediate and close attention to those placements," Mr Williamson wrote to local authority chief executives. | "I am concerned about the number of children under 16 placed in settings that are not registered with Ofsted, so should not be delivering care, and I am certain that you will want to pay immediate and close attention to those placements," Mr Williamson wrote to local authority chief executives. |
"I look forward to working together to make sure these types of placements are eliminated," he added. | |
"Such settings must only be used for older children who are ready to live with the level of independence afforded by these settings." | "Such settings must only be used for older children who are ready to live with the level of independence afforded by these settings." |
Teenagers in semi-independent care are treated as young adults and expected to do things like open bank accounts, wash clothes and buy food. | Teenagers in semi-independent care are treated as young adults and expected to do things like open bank accounts, wash clothes and buy food. |
'Neglect' | 'Neglect' |
'Amy', who lived in an unregulated home when she was 17, said the minister's concern was "completely right". | 'Amy', who lived in an unregulated home when she was 17, said the minister's concern was "completely right". |
"It's just neglect to put under 16s in these places," she told Newsnight. | "It's just neglect to put under 16s in these places," she told Newsnight. |
"They need to be finding better places to put kids. They're creating more problems for society in the future. " | "They need to be finding better places to put kids. They're creating more problems for society in the future. " |
'Emma', who was placed in an unregulated placement last year at the age of 15, also welcomed the intervention. | 'Emma', who was placed in an unregulated placement last year at the age of 15, also welcomed the intervention. |
"It is not the right environment for someone so young," she said. | "It is not the right environment for someone so young," she said. |
The mother of a boy, 15, placed in an unregulated home, told Newsnight she was horrified when realised the placement was not registered with Ofsted. | The mother of a boy, 15, placed in an unregulated home, told Newsnight she was horrified when realised the placement was not registered with Ofsted. |
"Ofsted is important to me because it is telling me that a place is fit for purpose and has been checked." | "Ofsted is important to me because it is telling me that a place is fit for purpose and has been checked." |
The placement was more than 100 miles from the family home. | The placement was more than 100 miles from the family home. |
"I was told it would be for twelve weeks only. But my son was there for nearly a year. He received no structured education for most of the time he was there and often stayed in bed until 4 pm." | "I was told it would be for twelve weeks only. But my son was there for nearly a year. He received no structured education for most of the time he was there and often stayed in bed until 4 pm." |
Local authorities can pay to place children in unregulated accommodation if they deem it to be in a child's best interests, a place in registered accommodation cannot be found or a court approves the placement. | Local authorities can pay to place children in unregulated accommodation if they deem it to be in a child's best interests, a place in registered accommodation cannot be found or a court approves the placement. |
The BBC previously learned children as young as 11 years old are being placed in these homes. | The BBC previously learned children as young as 11 years old are being placed in these homes. |
A freedom of information request carried out by Newsnight revealed that at least 63 local authorities placed under-16s in unregulated accommodation in the past three years. | A freedom of information request carried out by Newsnight revealed that at least 63 local authorities placed under-16s in unregulated accommodation in the past three years. |
Chris Wild, who manages a home for teenagers aged 16 and above, said he has refused to take children under 16 because it was "unsafe". | Chris Wild, who manages a home for teenagers aged 16 and above, said he has refused to take children under 16 because it was "unsafe". |
"At 15 you might be in care with an 18-year-old, who's been arrested for something sinister, or is affiliated with county lines drugs," he told Newsnight. | "At 15 you might be in care with an 18-year-old, who's been arrested for something sinister, or is affiliated with county lines drugs," he told Newsnight. |
Newsnight has been investigating this part of the care sector, as part of its Britain's Hidden Children's Homes series. | Newsnight has been investigating this part of the care sector, as part of its Britain's Hidden Children's Homes series. |
Previously, the programme revealed that, according to figures from the Department for Education, about 5,500 looked after children in England were living in unregulated accommodation, up 70% from 2,900 10 years ago. | Previously, the programme revealed that, according to figures from the Department for Education, about 5,500 looked after children in England were living in unregulated accommodation, up 70% from 2,900 10 years ago. |
You can watch Newsnight on BBC Two at 22:30 on weekdays. Catch up on iPlayer, subscribe to the programme on YouTube and follow it on Twitter. | You can watch Newsnight on BBC Two at 22:30 on weekdays. Catch up on iPlayer, subscribe to the programme on YouTube and follow it on Twitter. |