DfE dismisses plea to extend deadline for supported accommodation consultation

The six-week consultation launched in December and is set to close on January 16, a traditionally busy period for charities who support vulnerable children and families, according to campaign group National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS).

In a letter to children’s minister Claire Coutinho, the campaign group says it plans to “submit serious concerns” about the government’s proposals.

• Unregulated accommodation for 16- and 17-year-olds cannot be normalised

• Put end to unregulated provision for under-18s, urge campaigners

But “to run the short consultation period through Christmas means that our charity will not be able to meaningfully engage children and young people with the government’s proposals”.

“We expect other organisations will be in a similar position,” adds NYAS’s letter.

“Christmas can be a particularly tough time of year for children not living with their families, with increased feelings of loneliness or isolation and a greater risk of homelessness.”

The consultation proposes a new set of standards to improve the quality of supported accommodation for looked-after children aged 16 to 17, after a ban on its use for under 16s was introduced in September 2021.

NYAS has called on DfE to extend the consultation by “at least four weeks” to “allow children’s rights charities time in the new year to support children and young people to share their views on the government’s proposals”.

But DfE officials have said “it will not be possible for us to extend the duration of this consultation past the 16 January 2023 closing date adding that they “hope however that you are able to gather the views of as many children and young people as possible throughout this consultation”.

In a letter from the DfE to NYAS, seen by CYP Now, officials say that a reason for refusing the deadline is that the views of care-experienced young people have already been gathered from two previous consultations, which have “helped us transition from a wide range of policy proposals to a set of robust quality standards” around supported accommodation standards.

Before Xmas we wrote to the government to say their 6-week consultation on supported accommodation wouldn't give enough time for children and young people to meaningfully participate (see letter).

Gov't has confirmed that the deadline of 16th January will NOT be extended. [1/6] pic.twitter.com/CO8RduCJNO

— Ben Twomey, NYAS Director of Policy (@BenTwomeyNYAS) January 10, 2023

The standards outlined in the current consultation include 24-hour access to help in a crisis for young people as well as monitoring of accommodation, ensuring bedroom doors are lockable and there is access to internet and mobile reception.

However, NYAS fears the measures will create “a two-tier system that denies care to thousands of children where they live”.

Among children’s campaigners to share NYAS concerns around DfE’s refusal to extend the deadline is Together Trust, which said “six weeks is not long enough to meaningfully consult with children and young people”.

The Trust also disagrees with DfE “that the new regulatory and inspection regime will safeguard children adequately”.