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Jimmy Savile
The committee’s report came against the backdrop of the Jimmy Savile sex abuse allegations and the Rochdale child grooming case. Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA
The committee’s report came against the backdrop of the Jimmy Savile sex abuse allegations and the Rochdale child grooming case. Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA

Child protection system failing teenagers, MPs warn

This article is more than 11 years old
Parliamentary inquiry reveals 'worrying picture' of support available to vulnerable 14- to 18-year-olds in England

The child protection system in England is failing vulnerable teenagers and is in urgent need of review, MPs have warned.

The Commons education committee said that while local authorities had a duty to safeguard all children up to the age of 18, too often the needs of older youngsters were not met.

It said childcare professionals needed to understand that a teenager could be a vulnerable "child in need" just as much as a younger child.

The committee's report came against the backdrop of the Jimmy Savile sex abuse allegations and the Rochdale child grooming case.

It said its inquiry uncovered a "worrying picture" of the protection and support available to children in the 14-18 age group.

"This is characterised by a lack of services for adolescents, a failure to look beyond behavioural problems, a lack of recognition of the signs of neglect and abuse in teenagers, and a lack of understanding about the long-term impact on them," the report said.

"It is clear that the system as a whole is still failing this particular group in key ways."

The committee expressed particular concern about the position of children who are leaving care and the range of accommodation and support that is provided to them.

It said the regulator, Ofsted, should monitor and report on the provision made for older children – "taking into account the views of the children themselves" – as a standard part of all local authority inspections.

It also raised the issue of children who are the victims of trafficking and the "tension" between child protection and immigration policies.

"Trafficked children found in criminal settings must always be treated as victims and children first, and not just as criminals," it said.

"We believe that it would be outrageous if destitution were to be used as a weapon against children because of their immigration status."

The committee chairman, Graham Stuart, said: "Care for older children is not good enough. They are let down too often, frequently ignored or not listened to, can be pushed out of care too young and insufficiently prepared and supported. This has to change.

"In all cases, these children must be treated as children first, and not just as either criminals or immigration cases. To ensure this happens, we want the Department for Education to take responsibility for the welfare of all children."

Matthew Reed, chief executive of the Children's Society, said: "This is a very welcome and important report, which highlights that far too often children are treated as the problem and denied the protection they desperately need and deserve.

"It is crucial children's needs come first at all times – regardless of how old they are, where they come from or what circumstances they face. We also welcome the committee's recommendation that immigration policy should be reviewed to take into account children's wellbeing.

"We know from our own work that immigration restrictions are denying children help, forcing some to sleep on floors and eat out of bins. It is vital the government listens to this report and takes action to protect all vulnerable children."

The Labour spokeswoman for children and young people, Lisa Nandy, said: "The most worrying thing about recent revelations relating to north Wales or Jimmy Savile is the myth that they couldn't happen again.

"Today's report, and the horrific sexual abuse of teenage girls in Rochdale, shows that power relationships are still exploited and young people, particularly girls, are too often ignored or disbelieved when they report abuse. It underlines why the government is wrong to resist a public inquiry into recent allegations.

"The government needs to set up a single overarching inquiry to draw together the confusing myriad of investigations now under way into institutional failures over child abuse and set out clear action that is needed."

David Simmonds, chairman of the Local Government Association's children and young people board, said: "It is encouraging that the report recognises that improvements in child protection have been made in recent years and that the approach outlined by the Munro review is the right one.

"However, one of the key elements of that review was that too much control from the centre does not help to reduce the risk to children and that social workers on the frontline must be left to use their professional judgment and to get on with the job.

"It is vital that progress in this area is not reversed before the reforms have had chance to have an impact."

More on this story

More on this story

  • North Wales child abuse inquiry pulls in police specialists from across UK

  • Phillip Schofield sorry for names blunder in Tory child sex abuse scandal

  • David Cameron warns against 'witch-hunt' amid paedophilia allegations

  • David Cameron challenged over paedophiles by This Morning's Philip Schofield – video

  • David Elstein calls for breakup of BBC news in wake of Jimmy Savile scandal

  • Child protection system failing to listen to teenagers, say MPs

  • Jimmy Savile invited guests to royal party on Prince Charles's behalf

  • The current child abuse inquiries – full list

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