MPs to hear from care-experienced young people and sector reps on how to improve vulnerable children’s lives
The Education Committee continues its inquiry into children’s social care by speaking to four young people with lived experience of being in care.
Meeting details
The session will begin with a panel of experts to discuss the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill’s provisions on: the market for placing children in homes, planning kinship care and support for care leavers. Government data shows that care leavers aged 19-21 are three times more likely than their peers to not be in education, employment or training.
A representative of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will discuss the Bill’s provisions for setting profit caps on companies that own children’s homes, and for the Government to have greater oversight of providers’ financial sustainability. A 2022 CMA report highlighted concerning levels of debt among providers, and pointed to “materially higher” profits from fees to local authorities than would be expected if the market was functioning effectively.
There will be questions on the Bill’s proposals for “regional co-operation” between local authorities when commissioning places for looked-after children, and for councils to offer ‘family group decision-making meetings’ to parents or carers before applying to the court for a care or supervision order, except for when it would not be in the child’s interest.
The Bill’s proposals to support care leavers will also be examined in the first panel. The legislation includes a legal requirement for councils to enable young adults to stay close to their former children's home, and continue receiving support, after they turn 18.
Meanwhile, a second panel of witnesses – young people who have been in care – will be asked by MPs to discuss their experiences of the care system, including if they were placed in accommodation out of their local area, and how they were supported with their education, housing and getting an apprenticeship.