Council pays £289k for teen's 17-week placement

Judge Steven Parker said local authorities were "at the mercy" of the private sector

A family court judge has expressed his concern after a council agreed to pay an "astronomical" £289,000 for one child to attend a specialist placement for 17 weeks.

Liverpool Family Court heard the teenager, who had been involved in organised crime and was considered at risk of exploitation, would "benefit enormously" from the placement.

However, Judge Steven Parker said local authorities were "at the mercy" of the private sector due to a lack of suitable accommodation.

The Department for Education (DfE) said it was "unacceptable" for private providers to "profit excessively from vulnerable children" and it was "cracking down on profiteering".

The child, who was referred to as A to protect his identity, was described as having been known to children's services since 2017 due to a "chaotic" family background involving alcohol abuse.

A, who has a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, was treated in hospital in March this year for injuries described by medics as "highly likely to be knife wounds".

His mother had also reported finding drugs, large sums of cash and weapons in his belongings.

Judge Steven Parker said the solution was "a matter for parliament"

The judge described how after years of not engaging with school and going missing for long periods, the child had returned to education in June and was "engaging well".

The local authority, which was also not named by the court, had "finally found" a placement suitable for A.

The assessment and intervention placement, in an outdoor activity centre, involved staff specialised in dealing with young people at risk of criminal exploitation and knife crime.

Judge Parker said he was familiar with the provider and had no concerns with the standard of its service, but noted the "staggering" £17,000 per week cost.

'Profiteering'

He said: "That cost clearly demonstrates, yet again, that local authorities are at the mercy of the private sector, and I am, time and again presented with cases where a local authority has secured provision that can cost anything between £12,000 and £20,000 per week.

"That is now a regular feature in this sort of case and the concern is that local authorities just cannot continue to fund places at that astronomical cost."

Judge Parker said the only alternative was "unregulated" accommodation which he said was often just as expensive and could be ineffective.

"Whilst it is obvious that the issue requires a solution it is not a matter for me, as a judge, to say what that should be," he added. "That is a matter for Parliament."

Judge Parker agreed to impose a Deprivation of Liberty Order to facilitate A being accommodated at the centre.

A DfE spokesperson said the government was investing £560m to reform children's social care and expand and refurbish children's homes.

They said: "Local authorities must get value for money and it is unacceptable for providers to profit excessively from vulnerable children.

"Through our ongoing reforms, we are rebalancing the market, improving transparency and commissioning and cracking down on profiteering."