Young Futures Hubs
Lord Bishop of Newcastle Excerpts(6 months, 3 weeks ago)
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Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
The noble Lord is right that all the places that he talked about will have a role to play in supporting young people with mental health issues, who have had very difficult starts in their lives, helping to keep them out of crime. I hope I can reassure the noble Lord that the point about Young Futures hubs is that they will build on the success of existing infrastructure and provision. This will not be a completely new building or completely new provision, but it will be a new approach to making sure that all the services that I have talked about in previous answers can be brought together successfully to support young people. That is what the early adopters in the eight hubs will look to ensure is as successful as possible.
The Lord Bishop of Newcastle
My Lords, it is important that the Young Futures hubs are developed in such a way that they respond to the distinct challenges in different local contexts. How do the Government intend to work with and consult young people from different regions of the UK to help shape and develop these important services?
Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
The right reverend Prelate is right, of course, that there will be different ways in which provision already exists and needs manifest themselves in different parts of the country. That is precisely why, in the development of not only the first early adopter hubs but the 50 hubs to be developed after that, there will be engagement with young people and a recognition of the particular needs and strengths of the various areas in which they are being set up.
Unregistered Children’s Homes: Fees
Lord Bishop of Newcastle Excerpts(1 year, 3 months ago)
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Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
The noble Lord is right that the leadership of these homes is very important in ensuring that they are providing the quality of care we want to see. In thinking about the provisions in the children’s well-being Bill, we are working with the sector, with local authorities, on where we need to improve regulation. In considering that, I will certainly feed back the point the noble Lord makes about staff.
The Lord Bishop of Newcastle
My Lords, at the last count in March 2023, 41% of children’s homes in England were located in the north of England. What steps are the Government taking to provide additional support to areas of the country where there is a disproportionately higher number of children in the care home and care system?
Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
The right reverend Prelate raises an important point. In the development of private children’s homes, we have seen a growth: for example, it is possible to get hold of accommodation more cheaply, but that does not necessarily mean that such homes are where children need them. Some 25% of all homes nationally are in the north-west, despite only 16% of children who need to be looked after in residential care coming from the north-west. That is why there has been investment to support local authorities to improve existing provision and to create additional placements; and it is why, through the children’s well-being Bill and in other ways, we will work to ensure that, wherever a child needs care, there is high-quality care that does not involve them having to travel or the local authority facing excessive costs.