Reflecting a nationwide issue, Lincolnshire County Council allocated nearly £1 million last year to accommodate children in unregistered care homes. This is a practice considered illegal by Ofsted, however, it’s a practice seen with increasing frequency across UK councils due to growing demands for child care facilities.
The assistant director for children and young people of Lincolnshire, Jo Kavanagh, emphasised the council’s focus on child safety. She confirmed that social workers visit these children on a weekly basis. Kavanagh underlined the robust structure of fostering families and residential locations within the county, yet recognised the occasional necessity to utilise unregistered facilities due to the nationwide shortage of specialist or fully registered homes. In these instances, Kavanagh assured, there are properly qualified staff caring for the children, with the council offering support in their registration processes if needed.
Government regulations unequivocally state that operating children’s homes without Ofsted registration is illegal and considered an offence. It’s worryingly observed that there’s a ‘concerning rise’ in the employment of such unregulated homes, their numbers escalating from approximately 140 three years ago to around 900 in 2023/24.
At present, Lincolnshire County Council bears the responsibility for 780 children. The forecasted costs for their care are set to escalate to £110 million within this financial year. Given the combination of increasing demands and tightening funds, local councillors have characterised the situation as a ‘perfect storm’.
This report was adjusted from original reporting by The Lincoln Post and can be found at www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk.
