'Unfit' social care system putting some vulnerable teenagers in 'greater danger'

The former children's commissioner for England says the social care system is unfit for purpose and putting some children in greater danger.

A new report by Young Lives called 'Out of Harms Way' suggests that some children are 'handed' to criminals and abusers by moving them away from their families and communities.

'Out of Harm’s Way’ is calling for a ban on the use of unregulated accommodation for under-18s in care; the re-establishment of the Government’s defunct Serious Violence Taskforce; a new ‘Teenager in Need’ support form, and long-term funding for Violence Reduction Units and Young Adder programmes to reduce the numbers of teenagers at risk of exploitation.

"Often, we may as well be handing over children directly to ruthless gangs and criminals. It is unfit for purpose"

Anne Longfield, the former children's commissioner for England and the chair of the Commission on Young Lives, said:

“A children’s social care system that is supposed to protect vulnerable teenagers is frequently putting them in even greater danger. Often, we may as well be handing over children directly to ruthless gangs and criminals. It is unfit for purpose.

“We know the number of vulnerable teenagers at risk of exploitation entering the care system is becoming older, with more complex and expensive needs, and growing. We also know this is putting an enormous strain on the whole children’s social care system. The recent horrific murders of two young children show the tragic consequence of a child protection system stretched to its absolute limit.

“Resetting children’s social care in this new offer for teenagers will require determined action and some funding, but it is clear there are huge benefits not only to those vulnerable young people who need protection, but also to the public purse.

“We need a new offer for vulnerable teenagers in care and on the edge of care, and this report provides one.”

Report findings:

"In March 2021, there were 80,850 children in care in England, a 1% rise on the year before and the highest on record.

"Social services’ caseloads are increasing, and the costs of care are increasing, as 10–15-year-olds become the fastest growing group of children entering care and 16-and-17-year-olds with acute needs now make up 23% of children in care.

"With the average costs of care for many of these children at £200,000 per year, the cost of crisis care is escalating, leaving funds available for early intervention and prevention reduced year on year.

"The report argues that a care system that was largely designed for small children is struggling to adapt to the needs of older children, including operating inflexible hours and work practices that are not suited to the often chaotic lives of vulnerable teens.

"It makes a series of recommendations to government, aimed at improving the children’s social care system and keeping teenagers safe from county lines, drug gangs and criminal exploitation.

"Evidence provided to the Commission describes how Black boys in care are more likely to go on and enter the youth justice system, and how this problem is worsening as the number of Black boys going into care rises.

"The Commission also heard evidence that Black boys, who are already disproportionately affected by gang criminal exploitation, are often receiving different services, including police responses, and how Black teenage boys are less likely to be seen as victims and more likely to be viewed as offenders."

Recommendations for the government:

• Government to establish a ‘Vulnerable Teenagers At Risk’ ministerial taskforce, along the lines of the defunct Serious Violence Taskforce established by the previous Prime Minister.

• The Department for Education to establish a ‘teenagers out of harm’ programme that guarantees teenagers are not placed in inappropriate care placements, and a ban on the use of unregulated accommodation for all under18s in care.

• New duties and protections for co-ordinated support for teenagers at risk and their families from local authorities, schools, GPs and the police.

• The Department for Education to establish a new ‘Teenager in Care’ package of appropriate and high-quality modes of care for teenagers, accelerating its programme to increase the capacity of residential care for teenagers and financing new local community children’s homes.

• A national recruitment programme of specialist teen foster carers, encouraging youth workers and others with specialist knowledge and skills in working with young people to become foster carers, with a bespoke package of support.

• Extension of funding for Violence Reduction Units and Young Adder as part of a Safe Teenagers programme.

• Funding from the Supporting Families and Family Hubs programmes to prioritise support for vulnerable children with a particular emphasis on supporting families with teenagers at risk.

• The launch of a new Teenager at Risk helpline aimed at both vulnerable children and parents and families.

• We have approached the Government for a statement.

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• social care
• child care
• anne longfield