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Unregulated accommodation for 16- and 17-year-olds cannot be normalised

3 mins read Guest Blog
Every year, one in four children entering the care system is aged 16 or 17. The reasons they are in care are complex and varied, but the majority have experienced either neglect or abuse in their home.
The government banned unregulated accommodation for under-16s in September last year. Picture: AdobeStock
The government banned unregulated accommodation for under-16s in September last year. Picture: AdobeStock

The government says that young people would do best in foster care or residential care, but it claims that some are ready for the independence that comes with either living alone in a bedsit or living in a shared environment with adults. These placements are known as semi-independent or unregulated accommodation.  

Once thought of as an exceptional or emergency placement, the growth of unregulated accommodation has spiralled out of control. Between 2009 and 2019 the number of children living in these placements increased by 210 per cent. The cost and shortage of regulated care placements have become more significant considerations for the government than providing high-quality care for vulnerable young people. 

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