Understanding OWR in Wales
The publication of this report marks an important step in an ongoing national conversation about how we care for some of the most vulnerable children and young people in Wales.
Since publishing a position statement in 2023, ADSS Cymru has raised consistent concerns about the increasing use of Children’s Residential care home services operating without registration (OWR), and the system pressures driving their use. Our 2023 statement highlighted that these arrangements are taking place within a context of unprecedented system pressure, where local authorities are often left with no viable alternative in order to meet their safeguarding duties. Now, we are publishing the full report, which builds on that position by bringing forward the voices of young people who have experienced OWR placements directly.
What the report tells us
Supported by Cardiff University and Dr Sophie Hallett who led this research on behalf of ADSS Cymru,this report provides a nuanced picture of life within OWR Care home services.
Some young people describe experiences of safety, stability and strong relationships with staff, describing environments that, at times, felt more like home than previous placements. Others describe inconsistency, gaps in support, and provision that did not fully meet their needs.
These experiences show both what good care looks like, and where the system is falling short. They also reinforce a clear conclusion, that OWR arrangements themselves are not an appropriate or sustainable model of care.
The wider context
Local authorities across Wales continue to face significant challenges in securing suitable placements, particularly for children with complex needs.
In some cases, Children’s Residential care home services OWR have been used as a last resort to meet statutory safeguarding duties where no registered placement is available. These decisions reflect the reality of a system where demand continues to outstrip supply.
What happens next
This report is a call to act on what we know.
It highlights the need to:
Increase placement sufficiency across foster care and residential provision
Ensure all care is delivered within a regulated, high-quality framework
Embed the voices of young people in shaping services
Strengthen partnership working across the system
ADSS Cymru remains clear that every child and young person deserves safe, stable and regulated care. The experiences shared in this report should inform how the system evolves to make that a reality.
