Petition · past parliament · Department for Education
Ban profit making in child social care and introduce price caps on placements
Closed
136 signatures
What the petition asks
We want the Government to legislate to ensure no profit making is allowed in child social care. We believe placements should be run by local authorities, or if run by independent fostering agencies, these agencies should run not for profit. Additionally, price caps to services should be included.
There are currently 83,000 children in care in England. Data from a selection of local authorities found that the average cost of a local authority placement was £23,000, but the average cost with an independent fostering agency was £48,000.
We believe this represents poor value for the taxpayer. Moreover, we think investors profiting from children in care is against the values of safeguarding, which demand the child's needs at the centre of decision making. The Government's aim should be to ensure the best outcomes for children, not the best outcomes for investors.
We believe this represents poor value for the taxpayer. Moreover, we think investors profiting from children in care is against the values of safeguarding, which demand the child's needs at the centre of decision making. The Government's aim should be to ensure the best outcomes for children, not the best outcomes for investors.
Timeline
| 26 Feb 2024 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 29 May 2024 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
136
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Education
Opened
26 Feb 2024
Closed
29 May 2024
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.