THE placement of vulnerable children in unregulated care homes by councils cannot continue, the MP for St Helens South and Whiston has said.

Unregulated homes, which is also often called supported accommodation, are not inspected by a regulator in England or Wales.

Councils across the UK are increasingly placing children in care under the age of 16 in unregulated homes, which only offer support and not full-time care.

Under plans unveiled by education secretary Gavin Williamson this week, councils will be banned from using placements that offer accommodation with no care for children below the age of 16.

Ofsted, the regulator of registered children’s homes, could also be given additional powers to intervene when they suspect an unregistered home.

The government has put the proposals out for an eight-week consultation.

Following the announcement, Marie Rimmer, MP for St Helens South and Whiston, said: “As the government of the day, the Tories have a fundamental duty to look after children in care.

“Unregulated homes have led to young girls and boys being exploited, often being forced into prostitution, or used to run drugs.

“This is a situation that cannot continue.

“You cannot cheap out on looking after children in care.

“We all have a responsibility to look after these children, we need to give them a good start that will help set them up for life.”

St Helens Star: Marie Rimmer, MP for St Helens South and WhistonMarie Rimmer, MP for St Helens South and Whiston

The government’s proposals follow a series of special features from BBC Newsnight and pressure from several MPs calling on the government to act.

During a speech in Parliament in October 2019, Ms Rimmer said there were 25 unregulated children’s homes in St Helens, hosting up to 120 children.

And in January, Ms Rimmer told the government they did not understand the problem.

The Labour MP said a lack of resources has led to children going into out-of-area placements in unregulated care.

Since 2010, St Helens Council has seen budget cuts from government reaching up to £90 million.

The number of children in the care of the authority is also the highest it has been in years.

Ms Rimmer said: “It’s a good first step that the government has recognised the problem, but it really should never have come to this.

“A decade of cuts has left local councils, including our own in St Helens and Knowsley, with a severe lack of funding.”