Teen in care treated 'like stray dog' - BBC Newsnight

A Newsnight investigation reveals that more than 100 children under 16 are living in unregulated and unregistered accommodation in England and Wales.
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Newsnight has spent months reporting on the plight of teenagers in care, placed by their councils in unregulated supported accommodation. We’ve found vulnerable children at risk of exploitation, living in places that are simply not meeting their needs, not fit for purpose.
This is a sector of homes supposedly designed to offer 16 and 17 year olds support, but not care - because they are older.
Katie Razzall reports.
Newsnight is the BBC's flagship news and current affairs TV programme - with analysis, debate, exclusives, and robust interviews.
Website: www.bbc.co.uk/newsnight
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[@junerittmeyer1794]

I'm glad this man obviously cares. God Bless him.

[@abcun17]

Nice to hear that "no one from the government was available" to discuss such a dire and serious situation as the health, well-being and safety of these children. Of course no politician, of any stripe, hesitates to use children and children's issues as props during elections...not so much afterwards. Out of sight out of mind...

[@Jewelkraftscookies]

my ❤️ breaks for these children, they are so vulnerable and so lost and the very people that are suppose to care and protect them. Are the ones selfishly in it for all the wrong reasons. with the exception of a few good people like this man.

[@openminded4525]

I can relate to this because in 1962 i was in an orphanage and according to the rules ( age 15) i had to leave the only home i had ever known. While this was probably not unusal for that time , going from having everything done for you to looking after yourself with no instruction and direction was probably the making of me. You have to learn very quickly by your mistakes of which i made many, and developed into a person that i suppose was considered to be not very nice. Many years have now passed and looking back I can appreciate that instead feeling hard done by ,the orphange fed and clothed me from 2 to 15 years and to that extent I am eternally grateful. After the war many children even with two parents, had difficult times so my case was not exceptional, however it appears that the same problems are being experienced by some young people today, even without the added problem of drugs, which wasn't really applicable in my younger days. Good aftercare is so essential to help these unfortunate young people direct their lives in the right direction.

[@Sharon-sw7mr]

I learned a lot from reading your comment. Thank you.

[@Listenerandlearner870]

I would like to express immense appreciation for Newsnight and also News24's coverage of care issues. Thank you and please keep covering these issues.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Shocking story. We need to do so much more. But one issue we need to talk about is WHY is the family unit braking down.

[@MegaTrueTalk]

The State takes Children sometimes without Good Reason. They can end up a lot Worse off.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

gilkesisking disagree. We had poverty in the past, my late uncle was from south London and had no shoes but families were so strong. The 60s liberal revolution was and still is the biggest attack on the traditional family unit.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

gilkesisking yes, your right there. It's probably both.

[@TheCitroenman1]

most children come from homes where there mother or farther where in care the frase what comes around goes around social services use there backgrounds to fill beds keeping themselves in a job .

[@SirAmicVarze]

This country has completely failed kids in care.

[@minuteman4394]

Agreed, this country has failed so many of us in need

[@Dunning.Kruger]

Money, greed. That is whats wrong with EVERYTHING. Wake the fuck up.

[@maureennewman905]

Dear God , what a society we've become.shocking

[@TheCitroenman1]

this goes back to the late 70s it will never change

[@marimurphy3856]

It's absolutely despicable in theses homes they need to be held accountable was in care age 11 to 16 can't even get my files discusted.

[@lydx5814]

If a parent abandoned there child at home they would be in trouble , but the state parent can do it?????

[@deansumner5526]

Welldone man God Bless you man im glad some still have a heart

[@Listenerandlearner870]

People without families. Other communities are needed. Another great report. The BBC understands.

[@lydx5814]

Surely all placements are emergency!!! Why are they shocked someone needs somewhere immediately??

[@davidwolfe5193]

Was 12 when I landed on my foster mums front door the police took me to my foster mums house and just left me there

[@mrlad4685]

Fruits of Austerity

[@DonnaSmith1988]

They take children from families to put them in danger 😡

[@k_j_n1242]

Yes, but sometimes those families are neglecting and abusing them. Think of all those Baby P's. The First responsibility of a child is with its parents. They chose to have children.

[@abcun17]

Great report! More of this is needed! And a big thank you to all the social workers/frontline staff in shelters and other similar institutions and agencies, trying to keep all these vulnerable individuals/populations afloat! At times it's a loosing battle in a seemingly endless war...but one well worth fighting!

[@strengthbydesign]

And his clothes in black bin liners, just like what happened to my son, only last year! Bexley Council allowed this to happen by placing him in a care home that didn’t give a shit about him, didn’t care, not even curtains on his windows. It’s a massive scandal. This care home was regulated, but the people regulating them take no responsibility, don’t care and have no accountability. My younger son in another “regulated” care home was given a shit stained mattress to sleep on (I have photos) from the poor previous inmate. There is so much they could tell you it’s appalling. The abuse started when they went into care, they were not abused before. The judges, the social workers know all this and they don’t care, I never even got a reply to my pictures of the filthy freezing room and shit smeared mattress. To this very day I’m yet to get a reply from Bexley Council

[@deansumner5526]

Illegal providers such as YMCA should be investigated properly and investigated

[@lydx5814]

Give these kids a voice. .....

[@deansumner5526]

If any child is abandoned by a parent then that parent should be punished for that because it is a CRIME

[@ciarasutton5203]

Let’s stop using the words ‘stray dog’. Dogs also deserve good care and should not be treated this way.

[@giolag5593]

But, but we must curtail government spending to keep the budget balanced and save money for tax cuts and subsidies to big and extremely wealthy corporations. This issue must be solved by the free and unregulated market through peanuts that the rich are "donating", when and if they fancy, to charities to enjoy even more tax exemptions/avoidance. We must not become a "nanny" state!!! With love, The Conservative party and their neoliberal donors and "think"/propaganda tanks

[@ruthschofield8091]

One year on has this changed for children!... As no news I don't believe that this has. 😢

[@philipgreen6085]

Just for Money, people are making a lot of money, councils got rid of children’s care homes , I’m sure a lot of families would be glade to look of these young people, there are lost of good people

[@lydx5814]

Tell us how much they make ... the cost usually shocks everyone

[@vivienneandpups9964]

This awful

[@tracieattword1725]

All this fund raising goes no where especially to the kids in care. Oh it can sick kids that have familys and a home. But not the kids that have nothing . It's unfair.

[@cosmicstrain6544]

Mind blowned when u think stray dogs are treated like stray dogs.

[@r9kv753]

Their not stray dogs their fucking children

[@dominantallele4216]

Never forget CONservatives are all about 'small gov. and low taxes (for the rich). Don't be fooled into thinking leaving the EU plays any role in this internal Gov. policy choice. Tory austerity is definitely responsible for family breakdowns due to harsh and insensitive 'Universal Benefit' implementation which will: force families out of rented accommodation, reduce housing available to rent, add pressure to low income parents working 2/3 low paid jobs who are unable to supervise their children, crappy schools, overworked teachers and social workers including too few Res. homes or poor quality Res. homes for YP. Generally a lack of public services to the W/C which will worsen after cliff edge brexit.

[@TheCitroenman1]

stop using brexit at the expense of children in care you low life shit bag the system as been a disaster for over 30years now