Secure homes must ‘up their game’

Local authority secure children’s homes need to improve their quality of provision if they are to survive, a leading children’s services director said last week.

Paul Fallon, co-chair of the Association of Directors of Social Services children and families committee, called on Laschs to “up their game” after a government survey showed councils had a “lack of confidence” in Laschs and were placing children in alternative schemes (news analysis).

Fallon said: “The survey was an accurate reflection of the state of play. Local authorities are increasingly choosing placements with individualised support rather than the ‘one size fits all’ provision offered by Laschs.

“While there will always be a need for a small number of Lasch places, service providers need to think about improving therapeutic interventions rather than just containing people.”

He added: “We already lock up more children than most Western countries, so more alternatives should be developed.”


 

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