Increase in number of migrant children living in semi-independent accommodation

DfE’s most recent statistics on looked-after children shows a 42 per cent increase in the number of unaccompanied children in the care of English local authorities since 2019 and 29 per cent in the 12 months to 31 March.

There are currently 7,290 unaccompanied children in the care system – the highest number since current records began in 2004.

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Some 96 per cent of unaccompanied children in the system are male and just 14 per cent are under the age of 16, new figures show.

For the first time, DfE has published details on the placements of unaccompanied children.

This reveals that the number of young people placed in semi-independent settings has been increasing whilst those placed in foster placements and living independently have been decreasing.

Almost half of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children were placed in semi-independent settings in the year to 31 March, up from 24 per cent in 2019.

NEW: 41% of older children in care in England now live in care-less accommodation.

When we were in the High Court in 2022, government (backed by care review's interim report) stressed that 'some' children in care aged 16 & 17 are 'ready for independence'.

*41% is not some* pic.twitter.com/karbCAwJS1

— Article 39 (@article_39) November 16, 2023

Foster carers currently look after 38 per cent of unaccompanied children, down from 50 per cent in 2019, and 16 per cent live independently, down from 25 per cent in 2019.

Responding to figures related to semi-independent accommodation, David Thompson, director of the National Association of Supported Accommodation Partners (NASAP), said the figures “highlight once again the growing pressures on local authorities to find safe, supportive homes for separated children arriving in the UK in search of refuge”.

“The vulnerabilities of these children cannot be overlooked or understated, and it is essential that they receive the same protection and care provided to British born children looked after.

“The High Court ruling in July around the unlawful use of hotels for separated children was welcomed by the NASAP, and we believe no child should ever be placed with unknown adults or in unsafe accommodation,” he said.

Other key findings

Overall, on 31 March there were 83,840 looked-after children in England, up two per cent on levels seen in 2019.

Over a third of these children are 10- to 15-years-old.

Some 68 per cent of looked-after children were in foster care on 31 March while 17 per cent – up one per cent on the previous year – were living in semi-independent accommodation.

The most common reason for children entering care was a risk of abuse or neglect, followed by “living in a family where the parenting capacity is chronically inadequate”.

One per cent of children in care are looked after “due to low income or socially unacceptable behaviour”.

The figures also show that across England, 17,630 children in care had been moved more than 20 miles away from home in the last year while there has been a 62 per cent increase in the numbers of children in care in England moved more than 20 miles away compared with 2013.

Responding to the figures, Katharine Sacks-Jones, chief executive of Become, the national charity for children in care and young care leavers, said: “Being moved can be incredibly disruptive to children’s education and relationships – including with brothers and sisters who might live miles away. Young people tell us how lonely and isolated it makes them feel and the real impact it can have on their mental health.

“A decade of data paints a worrying picture of this happening more and more often - it’s unacceptable that children are being moved away, not because it’s the right decision for them, but because there are no suitable options closer. 

“Government must take urgent action to stop these numbers from continuing to get worse. We need a national commitment and strategy to keep children close to the people and places that matter to them.”   

Paul Carberry, chief executive at Action for Children, added: “We need to see a clear shift from the current system. That means urgent cash from central government and a fire lit under its social care reform plans. It must ensure proper funding for early help services to reduce the numbers of children going into care, better support for those leaving care to return home so they don’t end up back in the care system, and improved standards of care.

“This approach will not only benefit those children and their future life chances, but also the taxpayer, who is currently footing the bill for an expensive and broken care system.”

Councillor Louise Gittins, chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board has led calls for the government to invest in children’s social care in next week’s autumn statement.