Last month's decision by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) to cut the number of custodial places it commissions in these homes is now having a knock-on effect as homes rely on income from two key sources to survive - the YJB, which funds custodial places, and local authorities, which fund welfare places. It cements a wider trend, which has seen the number of homes fall steadily over the past 15 years.
But this gradual decline should not be seen as inevitable.
Despite the fall in numbers, there is evidence that there is plenty of demand for secure children's homes. Last year's Safeguarding Children report by the joint chief inspectors clearly stated that demand for places in secure children's homes often exceeds the availability.
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