Bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) are never acceptable places to house a homeless child, even in cases of emergency, the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) has reminded authorities.
The message comes in response to an investigation that has been launched into Lancashire County Council after a teenager was housed in the B&B by the council when his home life broke down.
The teen in question had been living with his father but getting into trouble with the law for taking and selling drugs, specifically cannabis. Visits to his house raised concerns about his behaviour and use of violence, something that eventually led to him being arrested.
Upon bail from prison no family members would take the teenager home, so the council had to find alternative accommodation for him. He was sent to a B&B without any consultation with the Housing department, where he spent five nights, Family Law Week reported.
Importantly, an assessment of his needs - which is statutory when working with homeless young people - was not carried out. The teen had been in the B&B for two days before he was visited and this case has since sparked the LGO into issuing a reminder that accommodation of this nature is not suitable for homeless children as it does not provide the support they need.
Dr Jane Martin of the LGO said: “Placing homeless young people in bed and breakfast accommodation – even in an emergency – breaches statutory guidance, which exists to ensure vulnerable young people are not left to cope unsupported, alone and at risk of exploitation.”
She added that “it is troubling” that it is still working on such cases involving Lancashire County Council. The council has accepted recommendations to not use B&Bs for this purpose again, as well as offering extra financial support to the family for the trouble caused by the delays in assessments and finding solutions.