Private profit-driven care for vulnerable children is immoral and dysfunctional
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/georgemonbiot. "Horrific, unregulated, and very profitable. The companies making cash from England’s children in care | George Monbiot | The Guardian." June 5, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
Monbiot argues that letting private companies run children's care homes for profit is morally wrong and practically disastrous. He says these companies charge huge amounts while providing terrible care, often moving vulnerable kids far from home to maximize profits, and the government should take back control of these services.
Conclusion
The privatization of children's care services in England is fundamentally wrong and should be replaced with public ownership
Premises
- Private providers charge the state an average of £384,020 per child per year, with some charging over £1 million annually - six times what Eton charges
- Unqualified operators including 'plumbers, hairdressers and Airbnb landlords' are opening care homes purely for profit
- Children are being moved hundreds of miles from their home areas to cheaper properties in economically depressed regions
- Profit-making provision is associated with more frequent moves for children, creating greater instability and vulnerability to exploitation
- Councils are so desperate for placements they're using unregistered, illegal homes where children face abuse and neglect
- 84% of care places in England are run for profit compared to only 5% in France, yet outcomes are worse
- Public ownership of public services consistently works better and costs less than privatization
Assumptions
- Children's welfare should be the primary consideration in care decisions, not profit
- Public services are inherently better suited to serve vulnerable populations than private markets
- The state has a moral obligation to directly provide care for vulnerable children
- Market mechanisms are inappropriate for essential social services involving children