Early help schemes will not stop rise in teenagers entering care, MPs told

12 January 2022 2 mins read Fiona Simpson Social Care Ofsted

An increase in early help services, including the roll-out of family hubs, will not prevent a rise in the number of older children entering care, the education select committee has been told.

Yvette Stanley speaks to the education select committee. Picture: Parliament TV

In a meeting focused on residential care, Ofsted’s national director of social care and regulation Yvette Stanley said the rollout of early help initiatives including family hubs, designed to support vulnerable families and children from birth to 18, would not “greatly impact” a rising number of teenagers referred to local authority children’s services.

Such young people and their families need “targeted” and “intensive” support including the creation of specialist foster care placements and children’s homes, Stanley said.

“I’m a passionate believer in the family hubs but these families are not going to be greatly impacted, it’s about crisis support, it’s often about intensive mental health services which are really poor for children in this country.

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