CYP Now - Children in supported accommodation not protected against corporal punishment, DfE admits

Children’s rights campaigners are raising concerns over an admission by the children’s minister that vulnerable teenagers living in supported accommodation are not explicitly protected against a ban on corporal punishment.

Carolyne Willow: 'It beggars belief that ministers believe staff are not acting in loco parentis.' Picture: Article 39

In a letter to Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, sent in November, director of Article 39 Carolyne Willow urged secondary legislation to be passed extending a ban on punitive punishment in children’s homes and foster homes to supported accommodation housing children in care.

Willow warned that this could leave children at risk of assault in their accommodation.

However, in a response to the letter, seen by CYP Now, children, families and wellbeing minister David Johnston said government “does not believe that a specific prohibition is necessary”.

“Given the nature of supported accommodation provision, which is inherently different to children's homes and foster care settings as it is designed to offer semi-independent, supported living for older children, it is extremely unlikely a court would consider that the responsibility to discipline a young person has been delegated to a supported accommodation provider or staff member.

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