The report by the Probation Inspectorate, Ofsted and Estyn examined how youth offending teams (YOTs) support young people in out-of-area care placements by analysing 60 cases across six areas.
It found that although YOT staff worked hard to develop good relationships with young people, many failed to fully appreciate the emotional impact of being looked-after and in residential care.
The report warned that outcomes for young offenders in care are “extremely poor”, while living far from home and being moved frequently reduces their chances of rehabilitation, disrupts links with family and friends, and impairs their ability to access education and training opportunities.
More than one third of children in the sample examined by inspectors were placed more than 100 miles from home. The report said it was often difficult to see from assessments why young people were placed away from their home area. In some cases, young victims were placed in care homes alongside young perpetrators of abuse.
In one case, a 16-year-old boy was found to have been subjected to 31 placement moves. In another, a 13-year-old girl who was a victim of sexual exploitation was found having sex with a 15-year-old boy in a children's home.
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