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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics

When social care is put in private hands

The Department of Health and Social Care, London.
The Department of Health and Social Care, London. ‘What makes us think that “quality” can be injected into children’s homes by requiring them to comply with ill-conceived rules and regulations?’ Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian

As someone who has worked in children’s homes since the 1960s and who is part of a community of people who have experience of generally good children’s homes, I don’t expect the government’s proposed reforms will have the desired effect (Overhaul of children’s social care in England will crack down on firms’ profiteering, 18 November). When care was put in the hands of profit-driven providers and local authorities and charities stopped providing the homes that some ran well in the past, what did we think would happen?

When social workers are so restricted in time and resources that they are forced to turn to shameless profiteers to accommodate children who need a home, love and childcare expertise, why are we shocked that children are not getting the support they need?

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