Outcomes for high-risk young people referred to secure children’s homes for welfare reasons: a population record linkage study in England

What is it about?

This paper aims to understand the factors that determine whether young people are placed in secure children's homes (SCHs) and to examine their outcomes a year after referral. SCHs are used for young individuals deemed a risk to themselves or others, but not everyone referred gets a place. The study analysed social care data from England, focusing on referrals to SCHs for welfare reasons between October 2016 and March 2018. It found that 60% of referrals resulted in SCH placement, with factors like previous SCH placement, being female, older age, and a history of challenging behaviour influencing the likelihood of allocation. Interestingly, the study observed minimal differences in outcomes between those placed in SCHs and those in alternative accommodations. This highlights the need to reassess the effectiveness of SCHs and consider alternative options for this vulnerable group.

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