Articles

Thoughts, insights and resources from the front line of children's services.

Sep 15, 2026 Safeguarding

Who profits when a child comes into care?

Private equity firms increasingly control England's children's care sector, with research finding that 11 of the 20 largest providers now use high-interest shareholder loans to extract over £200 million since 2020. As local authorities pay exorbitant fees like £1.56 million per year to house a single child, these financial structures are channeling public money away from vulnerable young people toward institutional investors.

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Dec 15, 2025 Safeguarding

National Protocol to prevent the unnecessary criminalisation of children in care

Welcoming the Government’s commitment to preventing criminalization among care-experienced children—over half of whom currently face convictions by age 24 compared to just 13% of their peers—the author nonetheless warns that ambition alone is insufficient. Without substantial funding for local authorities to provide trauma-informed support and mentoring, these vital reforms risk remaining empty aspirations that fail to protect vulnerable youth.

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