Industry tells of value for money and response to failings

Chief executive of the Independent Children’s Homes Association, Jonathan Stanley, points to the example of Pontefract-based Dove Adolescent Services which owns homes in South and West Yorkshire.

Mr Stanley says that children’s homes often deal with the most complex and difficult cases.

“It is children’s homes that respond to deep-rooted, complex or chronic needs often stemming from abuse or neglect, leaving young people with extensive, complex and enduring needs, often expressed through very difficult behaviour and who require more specialised and intensive resources. According to government statistics most young people arrive at children’s homes aged 15-and-a-half and stay for six months. This comes after as many as 30 or more fostering breakdowns which have an effect on a young person’s ability to make relationships and to engage in education.”

Children’s homes are inspected twice a year and Ofsted has reported that 90 per cent are rated as “satisfactory” or better. “Where homes are found to be failing Ofsted reports show that 60 per cent had made good progress once matters were raised,” he added.

Mr Stanley said official figures showed that costs of placements in the private/voluntary sector were cheaper than local authority homes.

He claimed that councils were driving down spending on children’s home placements to “unsustainable levels”.

“The Yorkshire and Humber region has retained its local authority homes more so than other regions but is making use of the flexible and specialist care of the non-statutory sector.”

Mr Stanley said that placing a child away from their home could be a positive move.

“Sometimes local is helpful. Yet research and experience tells us that distance can also be a positive factor offering a child the new experience of safety, or of accessing specialist care.

“Around one third of placements are more than 20 miles from home. Fifty five per cent are out of the local authority.”

He expects Government reforms to change the relationship between councils and care providers. “Local authorities may find their attention drawn to responsibilities they have not kept up these last few years such as ensuring the standards of care for all homes in their boundary are as good as they can be, or providing workforce development to improve standards where necessary,” he said.