Children’s Homes: Barriers and Facilitators to Councils and Small Providers Developing Provision

Councils are reporting increasing difficulties in finding suitable children’s home places for the children and young people in their care, especially for children who have more complex or challenging needs. At the same time, councils have been raising concerns about the growth of the largest independent providers of children’s homes, with issues around profit-making, financial risk and the ability to ensure the right homes for children all being identified.

This report was commissioned to look at the barriers to councils and smaller providers developing children’s homes, alongside what might facilitate this to ensure a varied market that responds to what children need and makes sure they have the homes they deserve. It also proposes a series of recommendations, which the Local Government Association will consider as part of its ongoing work to support councils to ensure that children in care have homes in which they are safe and happy, and where they can fulfil their potential.