For-profit children’s homes receive worse Ofsted ratings than local authority homes

Research conducted by the University of Oxford shows for-profit children’s homes provide poorer quality services for children than those run by local authorities 

Oxford academics examined 13,000 children’s homes that had been inspected by Ofsted and discovered for-profit homes are generally rated lower quality than publicly run institutions.   

Researchers also revealed for-profit children’s homes violate more legal requirements, yet receive more recommendations.  

Dr Anders Bach-Mortensen, Calsberg Foundation Visiting Fellow from Oxford’s Department for Social Policy and Intervention said: ‘It is well known, huge profits are being made by companies running these homes, but the response has been that the quality of services justify the costs.  

‘Our research suggests quality is not the same in both sectors and should be of concern to commissioners.’  

Within the children’s residential social care sector, outsourcing and for-profit provision have become widespread, but researchers state there is a ‘critical’ absence of proof of the impact it’s had on the quality of services. 

The new research also reveals local authorities with higher levels of outsourcing to for-profits are also rated worse by Ofsted for their children’s care services.  

Benjamin Goodair, Co-Author and Doctoral researcher on the study said: ‘Our analysis shows the outsourcing of these services has not delivered as promised in terms of securing high service quality for children in care.  

‘This is a cause for concern because most children are currently accommodated by for-profit providers.’ 

Researchers have also noted long-term planning and co-ordination is needed to ensure children are being placed in the best possible homes.  

Local authorities are currently struggling to provide children’s homes in appropriate places, resulting in for-profit homes having to fill this gap.  

As well as examining children’s homes that had been inspected by Ofsted, researchers also considered the area of operation and a measure of deprivation in the area from 2014 to 2021.  

Based on Ofsted ratings, the research has been published in the online journal, Social Science and Medicine.  

Photo by Ben White