Placing children under the age of 16 into unregulated accommodation will become illegal under government plans. The move comes following growing concerns that the number of children being placed in inappropriate accommodation is on the rise amid a shortage of provision and funding cuts. More than 6,000 looked-after young people in England are living in unregulated accommodation, with up to 100 under-16s living in unregulated provision on any given night. The LGA called on the Government to better understand the pressures on accommodation for children in care and provide appropriate funding to ensure the right homes are available. Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, Cllr Judith Blake, said: “The increasing use of unregulated settings is being driven by shortfalls in places in registered children’s homes and other settings, particularly for young people with more complex needs. The funding crisis facing children’s services is also hindering efforts to develop and maintain the right provision locally that meets the needs of young people.”
Independent p19, BBC Online, Guardian Online, Mirror p2, Times p24, Telegraph p14