Carolyne Willow
@carolynewillow.bsky.social
Longtime children’s rights advocate. Founded Article 39 children’s rights charity. Now barrister at The Barrister Group. My own views here, obvs.
Look forward to reading this ✨
October 25, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Look forward to reading this ✨
Spoke at national conference this week about supported accommodation for children in care aged 16 and 17. Asked for a show of hands from those who sent (or plan to send) their teenage children off to a flat, bedsit (‘self contained unit’) or hostel to learn to become independent. Not a single hand.
October 10, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Spoke at national conference this week about supported accommodation for children in care aged 16 and 17. Asked for a show of hands from those who sent (or plan to send) their teenage children off to a flat, bedsit (‘self contained unit’) or hostel to learn to become independent. Not a single hand.
Ofsted inspecting only a ‘sample’ of properties *every three years* is one of the many ways this form of accommodation was moved from being unregulated to regulated in 2023 without longstanding legal protections for children in care.
September 30, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Ofsted inspecting only a ‘sample’ of properties *every three years* is one of the many ways this form of accommodation was moved from being unregulated to regulated in 2023 without longstanding legal protections for children in care.
You will recall that one of the stated goals of the new regulatory framework for supported accommodation for looked after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17 was not to disrupt the existing market.
August 30, 2025 at 7:32 AM
You will recall that one of the stated goals of the new regulatory framework for supported accommodation for looked after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17 was not to disrupt the existing market.
The irony is that the adult supported accommodation sector is able, legally, to provide care. What a shameful mess.
August 29, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The irony is that the adult supported accommodation sector is able, legally, to provide care. What a shameful mess.
Oasis Trust (charity) chosen by former government to run this secure 16-19 Academy. By law, it’s a secure children’s home. Peers voted to allow local authorities to be able to run this new type of secure children’s home, since this is where expertise lies. Reversed when Bill returned to Commons.
August 14, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Oasis Trust (charity) chosen by former government to run this secure 16-19 Academy. By law, it’s a secure children’s home. Peers voted to allow local authorities to be able to run this new type of secure children’s home, since this is where expertise lies. Reversed when Bill returned to Commons.
Reposted by Carolyne Willow
About half of the 100+ Ofsted inspections published so far have identified concerns, some very serious.
July 13, 2025 at 9:27 AM
About half of the 100+ Ofsted inspections published so far have identified concerns, some very serious.
You will recall Ofsted never publicly opposed the last govt’s radical policy change of care-less accommodation for 16 and 17 year-olds in care (less costly private provision than children’s homes). Its constant refrain was - at least we will get to see what is happening to children. Then what?
July 13, 2025 at 9:18 AM
You will recall Ofsted never publicly opposed the last govt’s radical policy change of care-less accommodation for 16 and 17 year-olds in care (less costly private provision than children’s homes). Its constant refrain was - at least we will get to see what is happening to children. Then what?