Vulnerable Bristol children placed in unregistered care homes

Ofsted's director for social care said the practice is "unacceptable"

At least five vulnerable children have been unlawfully placed in unregistered care homes by Bristol City Council.

Unregistered children's homes are not inspected by Ofsted, despite hosting vulnerable children.

They are being used because of rising numbers of children needing care.

Councillor Asher Craig, deputy mayor responsible for education said: "We really need to find a way through because the demand is increasing and the costs are getting higher."

Local authorities placing children in unregistered homes is against the law, due to concerns about a lack of oversight.

According to a Bristol City Council risk report, between five and eight children are currently placed unregistered homes in the city.

Ofsted inspected the council's children services department in January and found problems with the use of unregistered children's homes.

Inspectors said: "The oversight of these arrangements is not rigorous enough.

"This means that the local authority cannot be sufficiently reassured about how effectively the needs of these vulnerable children are met.

"Arrangements to visit and to quality assure and check the care that children are receiving are not strong enough."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the problem is not just confined to Bristol.

Earlier in the summer, Ofsted issued a national warning against councils implementing the unlawful practice.

Yvette Stanley, Ofsted's director for social care, said: "It's unacceptable that some of our most vulnerable children with very complex needs are living in places with the least oversight, where we do not know if they are safe, or if the people caring for them are suitable or skilled enough to meet their needs."