Lords committee launches inquiry into children’s social care

The House of Lords public services committee has launched an inquiry into children’s social care.

It will examine a range of issues, including system demand, key drivers for the increase in local authority spending, potential profiteering by private firms who provide services, shortages in foster carers, the effectiveness of residential care placements and the impact of unregistered illegal children’s homes. The inquiry will also look at how the system is regulated and outcomes for care-experienced children.

‘Our inquiry will examine several factors which affect the way in which the system operates. There are multiple participants in ensuring the system works effectively including local authorities, regulators, government officials and departments which we need to hear from so that we can examine in detail the issues highlighted in our call for evidence. In addition, we want to hear from stakeholder organisations and people with lived experience of the system,’ said Lord Bradley, chair of the public services committee.

‘The goal of this inquiry is to explore obstacles, outcomes for care-experienced children, and consider possible solutions as well as highlighting any good practice and how that can be shared to improve the system so that it will benefit the children and young people it is meant to serve. We look forward to receiving responses.’

The committee is inviting written evidence to be submitted by 23.59 on Monday 26 October 2026 and expects to report on its findings in the next few months. For more information click here.