Duty of care costs set to soar
Two court rulings on duty of care for young people could lead to significant cost increases for local authorities, a report has warned.
A survey by umbrella group London Councils - which had 25 responses - after a ruling in May has concluded the cases could mean between an extra £400,000 and £2.4 million of costs to each London borough every year.
It found social services in smaller boroughs could be dealing with an extra 20 to 30 young people on top of their current cases, and more than 100 for larger boroughs.
In a case in May, the House of Lords granted an appeal on behalf of a 17-year-old Somali refugee against Southwark Council, which had decided the teenager did not qualify for care under section 20 of the Children’s Act 1989.
This followed a case last year in which the Lords said Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s social services department should have provided care for a 16-year-old girl instead of housing her in temporary accommodation.
Sixteen to 17-year-olds who present themselves as homeless, the report states, are entitled to income support and housing benefit. If they are taken into care, the council must meet their living and accommodation costs.
The findings, released at London Councils’ leaders’ committee this month, also state: ‘There is a risk that… hard-pushed housing departments wishing to make budget reductions will no longer take responsibility for either the assessment or provision duties for this group of young people.’
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