Private children's homes are failing children in many respects, according to Channel 4's Dispatches programme, Profiting from kids in care, which was screened last week.
Its undercover investigation revealed shocking examples of bad practice, including homes using untrained, unvetted agency staff to look after some of the UK's most vulnerable young people. Private businesses were charging large fees for services that were not provided, it claimed. And in one case a convicted criminal housing children in poor conditions boasted that he charged social services the highest fees.
But while the programme raised concerns that some private providers were acting unethically, Tony Hunter, president of the Association of Directors of Social Services, warns against kneejerk reactions.
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