Calling on the government to end the wilful neglect of teenagers in care
On 18 November 2024, the government issued a press release announcing plans for major reforms to address years of neglect within the children’s social care system.
We’ve proudly been a member of the Keep Caring to 18 steering group since February 2021. We firmly believe that all children in care should receive care where they live until at least the age 18.
As part of the Keep Caring to 18 group, we are calling on the government to end the wilful neglect of teenagers in care.
The timeline below outlines key legal and policy developments spanning over a quarter of a century – from the landmark 1998 ‘Dobson Letter’ to councils, to secondary legislation introduced in 2023 that allows homes not providing care for children aged 16 and 17 to operate legally.
The #KeepCaringTo18 campaign makes three recommendations:
- We call on the new government to urgently amend The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 to make provision for homes specialising in the care of children aged 16 and 17. This would ensure every child in care who lives in a group-based, residential setting receives care where they live, and that the same legal safeguards are in place for children of all ages.
- The forthcoming Children’s Wellbeing Bill should include an explicit requirement that all children in care are provided with care where they live, just as happens in loving families.
- We further recommend the regulation of supported accommodation for adults who have left care.