Responding to a report by the Competition and Markets Authority
on children’s social care, which outlines significant concerns
about the availability of placements and profits of private
providers, Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Chair of the Local
Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said:
“This report reflects the concerns we have been raising for some
years. As we made clear in our response to the Competition and
Markets Authority study, while we believe a mixed market of
provision of homes for children can be positive, our members are
increasingly concerned about the balance of provision, in
particular the growth and market share of the very largest
providers which limits councils’ ability to manage the market and
ensure the availability of placements to meet the needs of the
children they care for.
“The CMA has confirmed our recent findings that private equity
providers are making extremely high profits and carrying
concerning levels of debt that risks the stability of homes for
children in care, which is paramount if they are to thrive. We
continue to call for oversight of the market to avoid a ‘Southern
Cross situation’ in children’s social care and to ensure the
quality of provision.
“We are increasingly hearing of harrowing cases where suitable
homes cannot be found for children, including those with complex
needs, who desperately need help; this is unacceptable and as a
country, we must do better. This cannot wait for the outcome of
this review and we urge the Government to work with us to
urgently address these challenges.
“We look forward to working with the CMA and the Independent
Review of Children’s Social Care as they both develop solutions
to ensure homes are available for thousands of children who
deserve the best possible homes where they feel loved and are
able to thrive.”
