Local authorities place children in secure children’s homes for welfare reasons, when no other type of care placement can keep them safe. These placements are made under section 25 of the Children Act 1989.

Currently, there is a severe national shortage of ‘welfare placements’ in secure children’s homes.

The situation is particularly stark for London children as there are currently no secure children’s homes in London.

This lack of provision often leads to a wait of several months or the use of alternative and less suitable provision that cannot provide the specialist care and support that these children need.

When places are available, London’s most vulnerable children are being placed in secure children’s homes that are hundreds of miles from London.

When these children are placed far away from home:

• many lose regular contact with their family, friends and support network;


• the gradual process of preparing them to return safely back to their family, or the most appropriate longterm care placement is more difficult;


• it is also more difficult to make arrangements for them to access the community-based health services and education / training that they will need when they move on from the secure children’s home.

London boroughs are leading this project, using funding from the Department for Education. This new provision is being designed and developed to prioritise London’s children.

As well as supporting London’s most vulnerable children, the proposed provision will help to alleviate serious national capacity issues.

London boroughs will collectively run the secure children’s home via a not-for-profit company.