‘It’s soul-destroying’: struggle to house vulnerable children can leave breaking law as only option

Social workers in England say they often have no choice but to place children in unregistered settings because no one else will take them The sinking feeling is familiar now, says Anna*. It’s Friday, the clock is ticking, and there is a vulnerable child in her care for whom – despite hitting the phones for days – she cannot find a place. Once the foster carers have been exhausted, and the registered private children’s homes begged, there is nothing for it but to look elsewhere. “It always seems