Councils Still Pay For Illegal Children’s Homes, Report Finds

A BBC investigation says some local councils are still paying for illegal care placements for children, even though a ban was introduced to stop the practice. The report focuses on “children’s homes” that are not properly registered or approved. It says councils can pay very large amounts for each child, with figures reported of up to £2 million per child. The money is used to place children in these settings, raising concerns about safety and oversight. The investigation highlights a gap between the rules and what happens in practice. It calls for better enforcement so children are placed only in legal, regulated care homes.