According to research conducted by the Department of Education (DoE), the number of individuals receiving care in England has seen a consistent increase for the 15th consecutive year. This growth is primarily attributed to the rising influx of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children arriving in the UK.
As of March 31, 2023, the data reveals a 2% year-on-year increase, bringing the total number of children in care to 83,840. Notably, 1,620 of the 1,760 rise is directly linked to unaccompanied children, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
In the 2022-23 period, unaccompanied young individuals accounted for 21% of the total children placed in care, totaling 7,090 out of 33,000. This represents a significant surge compared to their 10% proportion in 2020-21. Conversely, the annual intake of other children into care has shown relatively consistent numbers during this timeframe.
The data also highlights a two-fold increase in the number of asylum-seeking children in unregulated settings. Specifically, there has been a 110% rise in the placement of unaccompanied young people in unregulated settings from 2021 to 2023.
Furthermore, there is a notable shift in the provision for unaccompanied young individuals, with the number placed in independent or semi-independent settings more than doubling from 2,120 to 4,450. This surpasses the 76% increase in the overall number of unaccompanied children, which rose from 4,150 to 7,290 during the same period.
As of March 2023, 61% of asylum-seeking children were situated in unregulated settings, marking an increase from 51% two years prior. It is noteworthy that, since September 2021, councils have been prohibited from placing individuals under the age of 16 in unregulated settings. Despite this, the proportion of 16- and 17-year-old asylum seekers in such placements rose to 71% in March 2023, up from 56% in 2021.
Since October 2023, councils were prohibited from utilizing independent settings entirely. Additionally, they are restricted from assigning young individuals to semi-independent placements unless the providers are registered under Ofsted's newly established supported accommodation regime.
A DfE spokesperson said: “Every child deserves a safe and secure home, no matter their background, and local authorities have a responsibility to provide appropriate support for all children in their care.
“We are supporting them by improving the recruitment of foster carers and increasing the number of places available locally in both secure and open children’s homes.
“The placement of under-16s in unregulated provision has been banned since September 2021, and this year we have ended its use for 16- and 17-year-olds.”
Comments