By Mark Langabeer, Newton Abbot Labour Party
A documentary broadcasted by the BBC and presented by Ed Thomas reported on the crises of young people living in unregulated care homes. They can be caravans, holiday homes or even barges. There are around 5000 young people living in unregulated accommodation, most of them over 16.They are inspected by council staff but not the level of supervision that’s provided in the regulated sector.
The programme focused on a company called Centurion Care Services. Many teenagers would be sent to homes that were often hundreds of miles away. A former care work described the homes as unsuitable because they would require different needs. Of the 5000, around 30 would go missing each evening. Many of these vulnerable youngsters end up being involved with criminal gangs and sexual exploitation.
Thomas interviewed a young woman who suffered from depression and made two attempts to commit suicide. She stated that there was little in the way of care and the homes were simply places that profited from providing housing to vulnerable children and young adults. Another girl reported that the only care she received was a room and bed in it. Another teenager, who’s identity was concealed because of a sexual assault by others living in the home.
Thomas interviewed a guy who stated that drugs were commonplace and this was confirmed by the former staff member. Dame Louise Casey, who led the investigation of Rotherham Council after revelations that hundreds of children suffered sexual exploitation, argued that all the care homes should be regulated with immediate effect. The final interview was with a guy from prison, who had been convicted of drug dealing. He stated that he was starving because he only received £52 a week. This is another feature of unregulated care home system. Children and young people were required to look after their own financial affairs
Tory minister passes the buck
The programme requested an interview with a Tory minister who declined to take part. However, they did supply a statement which claimed that it was local government that has responsibility for social care. What both the programme and the Tory statement failed to address was the massive cuts that have been imposed on local authorities. It’s the austerity measures that are responsible for the failings of care for some of our most vulnerable in society.
Youth who are politically conscious are overwhelmingly pro-Labour. It is they that have been at the sharp end of Tory austerity and see Labour’s programme as a ray of hope for a better future. Supporters of Left-Horizons believe that they should join Labour’s youth wing so that Labour’s programme is fulfilled and more. I believe that Marx wrote something like, “each gives according to his /her ability, each receives according to their needs”. That’s the kind of world that we should fight for.
December 5, 2019
