top of page
Adults'
All features
Training
Children's

Growing numbers of children in care moved far away due to shortage of suitable local homes

New data shows 18,000 children in care being sent to live away from their communities.

02/09/24

Growing numbers of children in care moved far away due to shortage of suitable local homes

Rising numbers of children in care are being placed in children’s homes and with foster carers far from their family, friends, school and community, a new report finds.

These moves often happen without warning and have a devastating impact on children’s lives, disrupting their education, life outcomes, and relationships.

The report, by children’s charity Become, finds that there are almost 18,000 children in care in England living more than 20 miles from home and that the number has increased risen every year since 2018 – this year by more than 3,000.

Researchers found that children in care are now living further away, on average, than they were a year ago.

Children in secure homes were most likely to be living far from home, with 4 out of 5 children in secure settings living more than 20 miles from their family, friends and community.

Children in private children’s homes are 2.5 times more likely to be living far away than those in non-private accommodation.

Living far from home can have a devastating effect on children and their wellbeing. The report found that children living more than 20 miles from home have significantly lower wellbeing than those who are placed closer to home. Worryingly, children who experience multiple moves are more likely to be placed more than 20 miles from home, adding to the stress.

Become is now calling on the new Labour government and local authorities to commit to stop children being placed miles from home; to publish strategies to increase the supply of appropriate local options; and to recognise and register the number of times children are moved inappropriately.

Katharine Sacks-Jones, CEO of the charity which advocates for children in care and young care leavers, says they hear ‘time and again’ from children in care the devastating impact of being made to move to an area of the country they don’t know – often happening without warning and sometimes multiple times a year. 

“This means moving away from friends, brothers and sisters, school and college – and being left lonely and isolated, at greater risk of exploitation with real consequences for their lives and futures.

“It is unacceptable that with each year that passes, the situation is getting worse with more and more being sent away from the people and places that matter to them. This new data shows just how urgently the new Government must act. We need a national commitment and strategy so that all children in care have a safe and suitable home in the right area and get the love and stability they deserve."

Paint on Face

Stoke On Trent Council

Senior Social Worker Pre Birth Team

Job of the week

Sign up for an informal interview for this role today

£42,403 - £45,441

SWT_SideAd1.png

Featured event

Social World Podcast

Podcast

30 Jan 2024

Instant access

Featured jobs

Stoke On Trent Council

Social Worker Court Team

Barnardo's

Youth Wellbeing Practitioner

SWT_Online_Events_ad.png

Most popular articles today

Extra-familial exploitation of adolescents: Recognizing and responding to risk factors

Extra-familial exploitation of adolescents: Recognizing and responding to risk factors

World Social Work Day ‘intergenerational solidarity’ theme announced

World Social Work Day ‘intergenerational solidarity’ theme announced

‘Using jargon goes against core social work values’: The power of language in social work

‘Using jargon goes against core social work values’: The power of language in social work

Children’s Minister vows to tackle social worker burnout and "undervalued" workforce

Children’s Minister vows to tackle social worker burnout and "undervalued" workforce

Sponsored Content

What's new today:

Supporting social work students with additional needs during their placement

bottom of page