The effectiveness of care provided in children’s homes will be investigated in a new study led by Kingston University, London, the National Children’s Bureau and Ofsted.

Outcomes for children in children’s homes currently lag behind those of other children in care, meaning they are at greater risk of going missing, becoming involved in the justice system for young people and experience mental health problems.

Spending on children’s residential care has increased by more than £1 billion since 2010/11, equating to an increase of 89%, according to the Children’s Charities Coalition report on social care spending. percent. This is largely due to the increase in the number of children in residential care, which has more than doubled since 2011. This trend is thought to be due, at least in part, to a lack of suitable alternative placements rather than ‘to this type of care being evaluated as the best option for the child.

This new research project, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), aims to better understand children’s experiences in children’s homes and build an evidence base for an approach focused on commissioning and supply requirements. . As the government increasingly focuses on profit in the market for children in care, the study will be crucial in illuminating how the government can positively intervene with children’s best interests at heart.

The study will examine anonymised data from more than 25,000 children in children’s homes between 2014 and 2023, with Kingston University working with Ofsted’s children’s social services data analysis team.

Collecting information from people with lived and work experience will also be a key part of the research, with the National Children’s Bureau leading a series of focus groups and interviews with young people with direct experience of homes for children as well as with parents, caregivers and decision-makers in the sector.

Experts by experience will also be involved in the design and dissemination of research throughout the project.

The study will highlight:

• How local authorities make decisions about child placement orders
• How outcomes for children are linked to the type of services they receive
• Why some children’s home placements work better than others

The first results of the study are expected in March 2026, with a final report planned for August 2026. It is hoped that the research will deepen and broaden knowledge of what works well for children in children’s homes, by examining the factors affecting placement stability, placement change, and different exit pathways from care.

The research will use a range of measures to identify outcomes for young people in homes for children aged 16 and 18. It is therefore hoped that the voices of children and young people previously in care will help to shape policy and practice in this area.

Rick Hood, a professor of social work at Kingston University, is leading the study and hopes it will improve outcomes for children in care. “Nearly one in ten children in care live in a children’s home and need the best possible care to help them thrive. This research will help us better understand which children’s homes are able to provide stable care for which children, and how this is important for children’s education and well-being. We plan to use the study’s evidence to support reform and improve services in the sector.

National Children’s Bureau strategic director of external affairs Phil Anderson said the study continues the ongoing partnership with Kingston to examine and address key issues facing children in care. “We hope that this research will provide a clear evidence base that supports effective policies and practices to ensure that all children receive effective, well-funded services that meet their individual needs. It is essential that children in care or leaving care are supported to improve their wellbeing with the stability needed to manage the transition to independence.

Ofsted’s national director of regulation and social care, Yvette Stanley, said the research will provide a better understanding of what works and what needs to change to improve the system for all children. “In our work inspecting local authorities and regulating and inspecting children’s homes, we see good decisions made, despite the challenges of finding suitable homes for children.

“We have seen facility workers establish excellent relationships with children, but this is not universally the case. And there are too many children, especially those with multiple needs, who are not well served by the system.