What factors are associated with placement instability for children in children’s homes in England? A retrospective cohort analysis using national administrative data

Abstract In England, increasing numbers of children in care are placed in children’s homes, despite a shortage of suitable placements and concerns about continuity of care. Unstable and unsuitable care arrangements make it harder to look after children with complex needs and can have a long-term impact on their health and well-being. It is therefore important to understand the factors associated with multiple changes in placement. This article reports findings from a secondary analysis of national administrative data on children looked after in England, focusing on a cohort of children who turned eighteen in 2022–3 and had at least one children’s home placement from the age of ten. Stability was measured as the number of placement moves during the child’s period of care following their first children’s home placement. Regression models were estimated to examine the association of stability with covariates, including demographic characteristics, assessed needs, and other aspects of social care provision. Findings showed that children had 2.55 placement changes per 1,000 care days on average and certain characteristics were associated with a higher rate of change. Implications are discussed for residential care provision and for the wider problem of sufficiency in the English care system.