Children's Commissioner Criticizes Social Care Failures

A report by England's Children's Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, has highlighted a significant failure in the children's social care system, revealing that vulnerable young people are being placed in unsuitable accommodations such as caravans and Airbnbs under deprivation of liberty orders (DoLs). While most children under DoLs are in appropriate settings, the number of those in inadequate housing has surged, rising from 359 in 2020/21 to 1,368 in 2023. The Commissioner criticized the system for prioritizing profit over the safety and well-being of children, with specific cases cited, including an autistic teenager placed in an Airbnb under supervision for nine months and a girl who experienced domestic violence housed in a caravan. In response to these findings, the government has announced reforms aimed at preventing excessive profits by private care providers and increasing oversight through Ofsted. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasized the urgent need for systemic change to protect vulnerable children, who are currently feeling neglected in the care system. These proposals come as spending on looked-after children has significantly increased, while many providers continue to profit at the expense of care quality.