Why illegal children's homes are being paid up to £2m per child by councils

Illegal children's homes in England are charging councils up to £2 million per year per child, despite a 2021 ban on placing under-16s in such facilities. Councils, struggling to find homes for children with complex needs, are turning to these unregistered homes. Dr. Mark Kerr, CEO of the Children's Homes Association, describes the situation as a 'Wild West' due to systemic failures in developing specialized provisions.