By Sophie Payne
In this blog, you will learn:
Who is considered a looked after child.
The types of care arrangements looked after children live in.
What a looked after child is entitled to.
Where the latest children's residential home jobs are and how to apply for them.
According to GOV.UK, as of March 2025, there were 81,770 children looked after by the local authority. Looked after children end up in care for many different reasons. Some may have experienced instability at home while others may need additional support due to disabilities or illnesses.
The government’s statistics indicate the importance of ensuring these children receive the support and care they are entitled to. To provide the stability these children deserve, it’s important to have a clear understanding of their needs and the challenges they face.
In this blog we’re exploring who is considered a looked after child, what types of care arrangements looked after children live in and what a looked after child is entitled to.
Who is considered a looked after child?
In England, a looked after child is a child in the care of a local authority, or housed by the local authority, for a continuous period of more than 24 hours. This usually happens when parents are unable to care for a child or when a court issues a care order, placing the child in the authorities legal care.
The Children Act 1989 states a local authorities responsibility to protect children when they are unable to live safely at home. Once a child is in care, the local authority is responsible for giving them a safe and supportive place to live, while long term plans are being made for the child's safety.
What types of care arrangements do looked after children live in?
Looked after children live in a variety of settings depending on the needs, timing and circumstances.
These settings include:
Foster care - This is the most common arrangement and is where foster carers provide family-based care within their own home. This can be short term, long term or even emergency placements depending on the situation and circumstances.
Residential care - Residential children's homes tend to be more for children with complex needs or those who are unable to live in family style environments. Within these homes are trained staff who will provide 24/7 care and focus on education, emotional support and life-skill development.
Kinship care - Kinship care is where children live with family friends or relatives. This care allows children to stay within their wider family circle, while still receiving support and guidance from the local authority.
What is a looked after child entitled to?
A looked after child is entitled to:
Access to healthcare services.
Emotional and psychological support.
Support to maintain family relationships.
Education support.
Financial support.
Access to healthcare services
Looked after children are entitled to access to healthcare services. This includes regular health check ups, dental care and mental health support.
Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that any medical or developmental needs are spotted early and dealt with promptly.
This includes access to specialist services for children with disabilities, long term health conditions or emotional and behavioural challenges.
Emotional and psychologist support
Often, looked after children will have experienced trauma, abuse or neglect in their early life which means it is essential that they receive support with their mental and emotional health.
These children are entitled to therapy, counselling or any other support service that helps them regulate their emotions, build resilience and confidence.
Support to maintain family relationships
While it must be safe and allowed, children do have a right to maintain contact with their family.
Maintaining these relationships helps the child retain family connections, even while living away from home.
Local authorities will work with families to arrange visits and calls in a way that is safe and supportive for the child.
Education support
Looked after children are entitled to access to education and additional support to help them succeed academically.
This includes having a Personal Education Plan (PEP), which helps track their progress and identify learning needs.
They should also have access to funding such as Pupil Premium Plus and get priority when it comes to school admissions.
Financial support
Looked after children might be entitled to allowances that cover their personal expenses and activities.
Local authorities will provide financial support to foster carers to allow them to meet each child's needs.
Those who are leaving care might be entitled to financial housing support, benefits or support with education and employment.
Children's residential home recruitment specialists
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If you're struggling to recruit the right talent, simply request a call back and one of our experienced recruiters will contact you to discuss how we can help.
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