The privatisation of children’s residential care in England over the past decade has resulted in worse outcomes. This has long been suspected by critics of the current system, which is dominated by providers either partly or wholly owned by private equity investors. Researchers at Oxford University have now supplied proof. The study found that 17,000 out-of-area placements, which involve moving children away from their home networks, could be attributed to outsourcing between 2011 and 2022. While there is wide variation between local authorities, the ones that rely most on private placements are those with the worst outcomes.
The frequency of disruption was also measured. Like out-of-area moves, discontinuity is associated with worse experiences, and reduced likelihoods of children developing the capacities and relationships that they need in order to thrive. A vivid demonstration of this was provided in recent weeks by whistleblowers from the chain Outcomes First, following its decision to close 28 homes at short notice. A worker in one of those homes described the acute and self-destructive distress of one young resident, when told of her transfer, as “one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen”. The Children’s Homes Association, which represents owners, took the unusual step last month of publicly berating Outcomes First, which is not among its members. These hasty closures, it said, fell “woefully short of the standards expected”.
