Amerdeep Somal said the boy faced being without any accommodation as the local authority was unable to decide where he should live when he became 18.
When he was “eventually” found accommodation, this was far from his family and school, forcing him to miss lessons and putting him at risk of self-harming.
This situation occurred at the end of 2022 despite the teenager being “on the council’s radar for years”, according to Somal.
“It is unfathomable why it took so long to begin planning for how he would transition from children to adult services,” she said.
“This inertia by the council, and the lack of joined-up working between departments, led to a young man – who needs stability, security and routine – having his world rocked by the uncertainty of where he would be living in future.”
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
