Ofsted has warned local authorities against placing vulnerable children including those subject to deprivation of liberty (DoL) orders in unregistered children's homes.

New guidance emphasises that children's home settings accommodating youngsters subject to DoL orders should register with Ofsted in England.

Ofsted has also updated its guidance to make it faster to register children's homes when local authorities need urgent placements for children.

Director for social care at Ofsted, Yvette Stanley, said: ‘It's unacceptable that some of our most vulnerable children with very complex needs are living in places with the least oversight; where we do not know if they are safe or if the people caring for them are suitable or skilled enough to meet their needs.

‘We know that many children deprived of their liberty are placed in illegal unregistered settings. It is important that providers register and local authorities play their part to ensure vulnerable children are only placed in registered settings.'