Children's home data reveals extent of out-of-area placements

The array of data, published as part of a drive to increase transparency in the system, shows that 46 per cent of children are placed in care homes outside their area.

Meanwhile, more than half (54 per cent) of homes are situated in areas with above average levels of crime.

The statistics, the most comprehensive ever produced on children’s homes, show that councils spend more than £1bn a year on residential care placements.

The average amount spent on local authority provision was £4,135 per child per week (£215,020 a year) and £3,860 per child per week (£200,720 a year) on private/voluntary provision.

The report also includes maps on the locations of children’s homes.

They reveal that London has the fewest number of local authority-run homes (16) and the second fewest number of children’s homes in total (96). The region with the fewest is the North East with 94.

The region with the most homes is the North West with 438, followed by the West Midlands with 299.

In terms of individual authorities, Lancashire has the most homes with 89, followed by Staffordshire with 71. Ten local authorities have no homes and nine authorities have just one home within their boundaries.

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Education Secretary Michael Gove said: “Today we are publishing as full information as possible about the location, ownership and quality of children’s homes in England in order to foster transparency and public debate on this issue, as well as improve care.

“I am sure there will be some who object to this additional scrutiny, accountability and pressure – there always are when there has been failure.

“But we cannot allow the interests of adults who have failed to trump the needs of children who have suffered."

Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC, said transparency is key to raising standards and holding poor providers to account.

“The data shows, for the first time, the location of residential care in England and who is providing it, and highlights just how many children are being placed many miles away from home, which can leave them isolated and at risk of harm," he said.

“This transparency may help to highlight where risk lies and make people take action. But we also need to improve the quality of practice in our children's homes. It’s not right that there is such variation with some children being exposed to serious harm when they have already come from a very troubled background.”

The push for greater transparency is part of wider government efforts to improve residential care.

It is currently consulting on proposals that include giving Ofsted powers to refuse to let new homes open in areas that are unsafe and to shut homes that fail to protect children.

But Jonathan Stanley, chief executive of the Independent Children’s Homes Association, said the government is not being ambitious enough in its reforms.

“Children’s homes providers hold a more comprehensive and radical agenda than the DfE," he said. “We need all local authorities to know their population of looked-after children. 

“Once we know the needs and their levels, we will be able to plan for the placements being in best places.”