Children in care

So why is this happening? Three quarters of children’s homes are now run by the private sector and these are disproportionately located in the North of England. Not because demand is higher there – but because property is cheaper.

Last year the six largest private care providers made £219 million in profit, whilst local authorities struggled to balance their books and outcomes for children in care remain dire.

Good Law Project has launched groundbreaking legal action to prevent children being put at risk by being separated from their support networks. We’re challenging five local authorities – Essex, Cambridgeshire, West Sussex, Surrey and Derby City – for not complying with their duty.

We are also challenging the Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, for failing to exercise his power to step in. We believe the Secretary of State’s failure to act, whilst children in care suffer, to be unlawful.

Good Law Project has instructed Stephen Broach of 39 Essex Chambers, and Michael Armitage and Khatija Hafesji of Monckton Chambers, to act as Counsel – and Bindmans LLP as solicitors. You can read the pre-action protocol letter here and Statement of Facts and Grounds here.

The case will be crowdfunded. If you would like to support this legal challenge, you can do so here.