Cost of children's homes doubles but care can be poor

A recent report from the National Audit Office (NAO) has highlighted a concerning trend in the cost of residential care for vulnerable children in England. Over the course of five years, the expenditure on each child placed in a children’s home has almost doubled, with councils averaging £318,400 per child for the year ending in March 2024. Despite these substantial financial investments, the report suggests that many children are still not receiving the appropriate care they need.

Ezra Quinton, a care leavers’ charity worker who first entered care at the age of nine, shared his experiences of being constantly moved from one home to another. He recalls instances where broken windows were left unrepaired, and children were advised to wear shoes while showering due to uncleaned glass shards. Ezra’s education suffered as a result of these disruptions, yet he managed to achieve C grades in all his GCSEs, despite the challenges he faced.

The NAO report identified the rising costs of residential placements as a result of a higher number of children in care with increasingly complex needs, as well as the profit-driven nature of the market. Private care providers are allegedly cherry-picking children based on their needs and the potential profits they can generate. Emma Wilson, the report’s author, emphasized the importance of balancing the supply and demand of available care home places to ensure that children in residential care receive the necessary support.

Calls for increased oversight and reform in children’s social care have been growing, with Claire Bracey from Become advocating for urgent action to address the issues identified in the report. While some privately run children’s homes refute claims of excessive profits, the government plans to limit profits for private companies in this sector. The debates continue on how to best provide value for money in residential care for vulnerable children in England

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