Unsafe housing conditions key factor in removals in a fifth of social work services

More than one in five children’s social workers say their service has removed a child or children from their family in the last three years where unsafe or inappropriate housing was a key factor.

Unsafe housing conditions can include maintenance issues, mould, damp, insect or vermin infestations or cramped conditions.

More broadly, three-quarters (78%) of all social workers said they agreed that housing conditions are a concern for people they support, with over a third (36%) saying that the number of people they help living in unsafe or inappropriate housing conditions has increased over the last three years.

“Removal of a child from their family is always a last resort, but sadly when conditions become dangerous action has to be taken,” John McGowan, General Secretary of the Social Workers Union, said.

“Social workers go above and beyond to help those at most risk in the country and are highlighting safeguarding concerns on a regular basis. However, addressing the housing challenge is more than social workers can do themselves.

“This data shows that the reality of life in modern day Britain is a struggle for many households. The country's poor housing stock poses a danger to the wellbeing and development of children and poses a risk to the health of many adults with pre-existing health conditions,” McGowan added.

The results of the survey differed regionally across the UK, with those in the North East of England, London and Wales most likely to report that housing was a ‘major concern’.

Amaran Uthayakumar-Cumarasamy, an NHS Children's Doctor based in South Yorkshire, said that some of the most acute harms of unsafe and insecure housing are being shouldered by the country’s most disadvantaged children and young people.

“Whilst the findings of this report are shocking, they won't come as a surprise to many of us working in the NHS. Increasingly, children's health professionals across the UK are witnessing cases of respiratory illness, undernutrition and worsening mental health all linked to undignified housing circumstances.

“What's more, rather than providing a foundation for their health, unfit, unsafe and expensive housing continues to severely impact their educational attainment, social health and life chances.

“Without radical change towards fairer policies that support affordability, energy efficiency, accessibility and security of tenure, housing will continue to entrench and reproduce childhood mass illness and stark disadvantage.”

More than 2,000 active social work professionals were interviewed as part of a Social Workers Union survey, which builds on previous research findings showing that the cost of living crisis has led to a third of UK social workers witnessing child removals in the past three years where poverty or financial poverty has been a key factor.

“Millions of people from the youngest children to our oldest pensioners are living in cold damp homes, unable to heat their homes to a safe temperature or racking up massive debts - with some even turning to loan sharks,” Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said. “To add insult to injury, around a quarter of what is spent on heating our draughty properties is wasted, because the UK's old housing stock is some of the worst insulated in Europe.”