The Kent-based Good Law Project has requested for a judicial review issued against five of the worst-offending councils, citing that children are placed in the care of local authorities because they cannot be cared for by their birth families or others for any number of reasons, making them extremely vulnerable.
According to the Project, many in the care system have suffered abuse and neglect at home, according to children’s charities, and their life chances and outcomes are often very poor, especially when it comes to performance and behaviour in school.
The Good Law Project says the challenge concerns the particular problem of 38% of children in care being placed outside the area of their local authority in 2020, with only 55% per cent within the boundary of their area, and 7% not known.
According to the organisation, recent figures also show the problem is particularly severe for children in residential care, with 70% of them housed out-of-area in 2020.
“Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is also being challenged for not stepping in to ensure local authorities are complying with their duty to ensure children in care are kept within their local area. The organisation said these “failures” are leaving children in care vulnerable to sexual exploitation, poor mental health, and county lines involvement,” ITV reported.
Gemma Abbott, Legal Director of Good Law Project went on record to say, “Time and again local authorities are placing children in the cheapest accommodation, often far from home, and not the accommodation that best meets their needs.”
The worst offending councils include: Surrey County Council, West Sussex County Council, Essex County Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and Derby City Council.
