The report One-Person Children's Homes: A positive choice or lastresort?, published yesterday (27 March), also found that children withcomplex needs are being placed in the homes despite there being no clearindication of their effectiveness.
The first major study of one-person children's homes compared standardsin one-bed homes to those for two and three children as well as largerhomes. While single occupancy homes had higher standards in areas likegood health and wellbeing, behaviour management and accommodation, theyunderperformed in some key areas.
The report said: "They do less well in terms of staffing (adequacy,training and competence), monitoring what goes on, preparations forleaving care and support to individual children."
The majority of children placed in one-bedroom homes have complex needs,like emotional and behavioural difficulties, learning disabilities andmental health problems.
But the report said there is a lack of knowledge about outcomes forthese children: "With no standardised base assessment of young peoplebefore and after their stay in the home, it is not possible todemonstrate outcomes."
It added: "More information and knowledge are needed abouteffectiveness, the outcomes for children with very complex needs and thealternatives being successfully used by councils."
Dame Denise Platt, the commission's chair, said: "We don't know enoughabout how children respond to living on their own in these homes."
The report also says that one-bed children's homes should not be used asalternatives to secure accommodation. "Some councils use one-personhomes in an attempt to avoid a referral for a secure placement," itsays. "There should be no occasion when a one-person children's home isused as an alternative to secure accommodation in the sense that itplaces limits to the freedom of the young person without due process oflaw."
Other matters raised included one-bedroom homes being a long way fromthe child's home, and that children feel lonely but enjoy more attentionfrom staff. The report calls for more research on the effectiveness ofhomes so there can be an informed debate on whether one-child homes area positive option or a last resort.
Janet Rich, director of Bryn Melyn Group, said: "It is high time that adebate was opened about the quality and effectiveness of one-bedroomchildren's homes."
But she said it was unhelpful that the report suggested there was noevidence of outcomes as some individual homes have carried out their ownresearch.
- www.csci.org.uk.
