Tom Wall
@tomwall.bsky.social
Journalist. News and investigations for the Guardian, BBC and The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
✉️ [email protected]
✉️ [email protected]
Pinned
Tom Wall
@tomwall.bsky.social
· Sep 8
Councils pay more than £125m a year placing vulnerable children in illegal care homes in England
Exclusive: Booming industry of businesses profit from shortage of beds for most at-risk children
www.theguardian.com
I’ve been trawling council payment records to finally lift the lid on England’s growing illegal care market, where companies receive millions to house kids in unregulated facilities. My investigation for @TBIJ & @guardian 1/5 www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Reposted by Tom Wall
Councils pay more than £125m a year placing vulnerable children in illegal care homes in England
Councils pay more than £125m a year placing vulnerable children in illegal care homes in England
Exclusive: Booming industry of businesses profit from shortage of beds for most at-risk children
*
Princess’s story: the case that highlights scourge of illegal care provision
Councils are paying more than £125m a year of taxpayers’ money to place vulnerable children in illegal care homes across England, an investigation has found.
The Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) have uncovered a booming industry of businesses profiting from a shortage of beds for the most at-risk children in Ofsted-inspected homes. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 8, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Councils pay more than £125m a year placing vulnerable children in illegal care homes in England
Reposted by Tom Wall
Fantastic reporting from Tenacious Journalist @tomwall.bsky.social
Councils pay more than £125m a year placing vulnerable children in illegal care homes in England
Councils pay more than £125m a year placing vulnerable children in illegal care homes in England
Exclusive: Booming industry of businesses profit from shortage of beds for most at-risk children
*
Princess’s story: the case that highlights scourge of illegal care provision
Councils are paying more than £125m a year of taxpayers’ money to place vulnerable children in illegal care homes across England, an investigation has found.
The Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) have uncovered a booming industry of businesses profiting from a shortage of beds for the most at-risk children in Ofsted-inspected homes. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 8, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Fantastic reporting from Tenacious Journalist @tomwall.bsky.social
Reposted by Tom Wall
New @tbij.bsky.social investigation links 480 companies to illegal children's homes in England
Brilliant reporting on this shadow care industry by @tomwall.bsky.social
Brilliant reporting on this shadow care industry by @tomwall.bsky.social
Revealed: the vast scale of England’s £255m illegal care industry
Our major new investigation shows the trade in illegal children’s homes involves hundreds of companies – and a quarter of a billion pounds
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
September 8, 2026 at 9:04 AM
New @tbij.bsky.social investigation links 480 companies to illegal children's homes in England
Brilliant reporting on this shadow care industry by @tomwall.bsky.social
Brilliant reporting on this shadow care industry by @tomwall.bsky.social
I’ve been trawling council payment records to finally lift the lid on England’s growing illegal care market, where companies receive millions to house kids in unregulated facilities. My investigation for @TBIJ & @guardian 1/5 www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Councils pay more than £125m a year placing vulnerable children in illegal care homes in England
Exclusive: Booming industry of businesses profit from shortage of beds for most at-risk children
www.theguardian.com
September 8, 2026 at 9:35 AM
I’ve been trawling council payment records to finally lift the lid on England’s growing illegal care market, where companies receive millions to house kids in unregulated facilities. My investigation for @TBIJ & @guardian 1/5 www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Reposted by Tom Wall
Illegal children's homes in the north-west run by company with links to organised crime and managed by a ex-Army officer who two women have accused of rape
Vital reporting by @tomwall.bsky.social for @tbij.bsky.social
Vital reporting by @tomwall.bsky.social for @tbij.bsky.social
Ex-army officer accused of raping two women is running illegal…
Richard Douglas has a 25-year history of domestic violence allegations
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
August 9, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Illegal children's homes in the north-west run by company with links to organised crime and managed by a ex-Army officer who two women have accused of rape
Vital reporting by @tomwall.bsky.social for @tbij.bsky.social
Vital reporting by @tomwall.bsky.social for @tbij.bsky.social
My latest investigation into the booming shadow care market, where councils send 100s of kids, reveals an absolutely shocking catalogue of potential safeguarding failures in one of the UK's largest illegal operators 1/2 www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
Ex-army officer accused of raping two women is running illegal…
Richard Douglas has a 25-year history of domestic violence allegations
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
August 9, 2026 at 8:06 AM
My latest investigation into the booming shadow care market, where councils send 100s of kids, reveals an absolutely shocking catalogue of potential safeguarding failures in one of the UK's largest illegal operators 1/2 www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
Reposted by Tom Wall
A former army medic with a long history of abuse and assault allegations is running illegal children’s homes in Merseyside. Investigation by @tomwall.bsky.social @tbij.bsky.social
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
Ex-army officer accused of raping two women is running illegal…
Richard Douglas has a 25-year history of domestic violence allegations
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
August 9, 2026 at 7:21 AM
A former army medic with a long history of abuse and assault allegations is running illegal children’s homes in Merseyside. Investigation by @tomwall.bsky.social @tbij.bsky.social
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
This must be one of the worst under-reported scandals of our times: councils are sending 100s of kids to unregulated care homes where they are being targeted by gangs. My write up of new research 👇
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
Illegal children’s homes used as recruiting grounds for criminal gangs
New report cites police, council and charity workers describing the acute dangers faced by children in unregistered settings
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
May 14, 2026 at 7:49 AM
This must be one of the worst under-reported scandals of our times: councils are sending 100s of kids to unregulated care homes where they are being targeted by gangs. My write up of new research 👇
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
Reposted by Tom Wall
Illegal children’s homes used as recruiting grounds for criminal gangs
@tomwall.bsky.social on a new report which cites police, council and charity workers describing the dangers faced by children in unregistered settings
@tomwall.bsky.social on a new report which cites police, council and charity workers describing the dangers faced by children in unregistered settings
Illegal children’s homes used as recruiting grounds for criminal gangs
New report cites police, council and charity workers describing the acute dangers faced by children in unregistered settings
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
May 14, 2026 at 6:32 AM
Illegal children’s homes used as recruiting grounds for criminal gangs
@tomwall.bsky.social on a new report which cites police, council and charity workers describing the dangers faced by children in unregistered settings
@tomwall.bsky.social on a new report which cites police, council and charity workers describing the dangers faced by children in unregistered settings
Lobbying by powerful firms should at the very least be out in the open. But I’ve discovered big tech execs have been secretly meeting with a key Number 10 advisor. My exclusive for the Guardian 1/2 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Starmer adviser held 16 undisclosed meetings with top US tech bosses
Exclusive: Varun Chandra’s talks with Google, Meta, Apple and others raise fears of ‘lobbying behind closed doors’
www.theguardian.com
May 3, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Lobbying by powerful firms should at the very least be out in the open. But I’ve discovered big tech execs have been secretly meeting with a key Number 10 advisor. My exclusive for the Guardian 1/2 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Yesterday we exposed an appalling abuse scandal in an illegal children's home. Today we can reveal that one of the convicted criminals employed by the firm had neglected a child in his previous job 1/3 www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
Abusive carer had neglected an injured child in previous job
Protective Care Group failed to tell offender’s next boss about ‘substantiated allegation’
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
April 2, 2026 at 6:26 AM
Yesterday we exposed an appalling abuse scandal in an illegal children's home. Today we can reveal that one of the convicted criminals employed by the firm had neglected a child in his previous job 1/3 www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
Reposted by Tom Wall
@tomwall.bsky.social and I will be discussing this investigation - and what happens next - live at 6pm tomorrow. Sign up to join us here us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: How we uncovered the true cost of illegal children’s homes. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
An increasing number of vulnerable young people across the country are being placed in children’s homes that are not regulated by Ofsted – which is against the law. In 2024 alone, nearly 800 children ...
us06web.zoom.us
April 1, 2026 at 6:20 AM
@tomwall.bsky.social and I will be discussing this investigation - and what happens next - live at 6pm tomorrow. Sign up to join us here us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Tom Wall
A council sent a highly vulnerable girl to an illegal children's home staffed by criminals
They plied her with alcohol and drugs and sexually abused her
Vital reporting by @tomwall.bsky.social for @tbij.bsky.social
They plied her with alcohol and drugs and sexually abused her
Vital reporting by @tomwall.bsky.social for @tbij.bsky.social
Two ex-soldiers abused a vulnerable 15-year-old in an illegal…
Ordeal came after Caerphilly council sent a vulnerable girl 300 miles away to an unregistered home staffed by convicted criminals
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
April 1, 2026 at 6:08 AM
A council sent a highly vulnerable girl to an illegal children's home staffed by criminals
They plied her with alcohol and drugs and sexually abused her
Vital reporting by @tomwall.bsky.social for @tbij.bsky.social
They plied her with alcohol and drugs and sexually abused her
Vital reporting by @tomwall.bsky.social for @tbij.bsky.social
I've spent the past 4 months investigating one of the worst safeguarding failures in the shadow care system, where hundreds of kids live in illegal children's homes. My report for @tbij.bsky.social 1/2👇
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
Two ex-soldiers abused a vulnerable 15-year-old in an illegal…
Ordeal came after Caerphilly council sent a vulnerable girl 300 miles away to an unregistered home staffed by convicted criminals
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
April 1, 2026 at 6:31 AM
I've spent the past 4 months investigating one of the worst safeguarding failures in the shadow care system, where hundreds of kids live in illegal children's homes. My report for @tbij.bsky.social 1/2👇
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
Ministers have promised to make work pay - but I've discovered hundreds of workers without employment rights on government contracts from the NHS to the courts. More tonight on File on 4 at 8pm & BBC Sounds now www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - File on 4 Investigates, Bogus self-employment - who pays the price?
Why is the rise in bogus self-employment a problem for all of us?
www.bbc.co.uk
March 3, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Ministers have promised to make work pay - but I've discovered hundreds of workers without employment rights on government contracts from the NHS to the courts. More tonight on File on 4 at 8pm & BBC Sounds now www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by Tom Wall
It is illegal to run a children’s home that isn’t registered with Ofsted
Yet local councils are increasingly reliant on such placements – and use your money to fund them
Yet local councils are increasingly reliant on such placements – and use your money to fund them
Illegal children’s homes: company that let child sleep on floor…
Ofsted suspended GMT after visiting a dilapidated and unsafe home. Yet its operators are still providing care for vulnerable children
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
January 23, 2026 at 12:22 PM
It is illegal to run a children’s home that isn’t registered with Ofsted
Yet local councils are increasingly reliant on such placements – and use your money to fund them
Yet local councils are increasingly reliant on such placements – and use your money to fund them
A company found to be providing inadequate care by a High Court judge & Ofsted has collected millions for running illegal children's homes.
Two children are currently living in the firm's illegal homes.
New from myself & @garethtbij.bsky.social
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
Two children are currently living in the firm's illegal homes.
New from myself & @garethtbij.bsky.social
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
Illegal children’s homes: company that let child sleep on floor…
Ofsted suspended GMT after visiting a dilapidated and unsafe home. Yet its operators are still providing care for vulnerable children
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:11 PM
A company found to be providing inadequate care by a High Court judge & Ofsted has collected millions for running illegal children's homes.
Two children are currently living in the firm's illegal homes.
New from myself & @garethtbij.bsky.social
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
Two children are currently living in the firm's illegal homes.
New from myself & @garethtbij.bsky.social
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
Reposted by Tom Wall
Revealed: Company paid millions of pounds to run illegal children’s homes was suspended by Ofsted after a vulnerable child was found to be sleeping on a mattress on the floor in a run-down bungalow
New for @tbij.bsky.social by me and @tomwall.bsky.social
New for @tbij.bsky.social by me and @tomwall.bsky.social
Illegal children’s homes: company that let child sleep on floor…
Ofsted suspended GMT after visiting a dilapidated and unsafe home. Yet its operators are still providing care for vulnerable children
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
January 23, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Revealed: Company paid millions of pounds to run illegal children’s homes was suspended by Ofsted after a vulnerable child was found to be sleeping on a mattress on the floor in a run-down bungalow
New for @tbij.bsky.social by me and @tomwall.bsky.social
New for @tbij.bsky.social by me and @tomwall.bsky.social
Reposted by Tom Wall
Conservative Mayor of Tees Valley Lord Houchen told Newsnight in 2024 that 2 private developers had ‘£50m of their money sitting in a bank account’ when I quoted an independent report pointing out the pair had put no direct cash of their own into regenerating the huge old Redcar steelworks site 👇
January 8, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Conservative Mayor of Tees Valley Lord Houchen told Newsnight in 2024 that 2 private developers had ‘£50m of their money sitting in a bank account’ when I quoted an independent report pointing out the pair had put no direct cash of their own into regenerating the huge old Redcar steelworks site 👇
Wes Streeting and Keir Starmer are doing their best to demonise resident doctors but 1000s have voted for strike action because they are worse off than they were in 2008 - and the service is on its knees because of underfunding.
December 15, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Wes Streeting and Keir Starmer are doing their best to demonise resident doctors but 1000s have voted for strike action because they are worse off than they were in 2008 - and the service is on its knees because of underfunding.
Such a devastating and important investigation by Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne. Glad to have helped in a small way. www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Such a devastating and important investigation by Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne. Glad to have helped in a small way. www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Reposted by Tom Wall
Seems like a good time (again) to share the guide I developed with @freedomfromtorture.bsky.social, which tells you how to talk about refugees and asylum in a way that actually convinces the undecided - based on testing 🧵 www.freedomfromtorture.org/changing-the...
Changing the Conversation on Asylum: A Messaging Guide
Our new messaging guide looks at the methodology and messages that can help us carve out a new approach that will be successful in persuading the public that seeking safety is a fundamental human righ...
www.freedomfromtorture.org
November 17, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Seems like a good time (again) to share the guide I developed with @freedomfromtorture.bsky.social, which tells you how to talk about refugees and asylum in a way that actually convinces the undecided - based on testing 🧵 www.freedomfromtorture.org/changing-the...
About 50 antiasylum protesters led by far right UKIP leader Nick Tenconi were outnumbered by over 400 anti fascists in Bristol today. Lots of refugees waved at the crowd protecting the Mercure Hotel, with one girl making a silver heart and holding up against the window.
November 15, 2025 at 4:47 PM
About 50 antiasylum protesters led by far right UKIP leader Nick Tenconi were outnumbered by over 400 anti fascists in Bristol today. Lots of refugees waved at the crowd protecting the Mercure Hotel, with one girl making a silver heart and holding up against the window.
Reposted by Tom Wall
perating a children’s home that is not registered with Ofsted is a criminal offence
Yet, Cornwall Council offered suppliers £6 million to provide “staffing for unregistered places” across the county – and advertised the contract on a government website
Yet, Cornwall Council offered suppliers £6 million to provide “staffing for unregistered places” across the county – and advertised the contract on a government website
Cornwall council offered suppliers £6m to staff illegal children’s…
Regulators intervene after UK local authority accused of normalising unlawful placements
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:29 AM
perating a children’s home that is not registered with Ofsted is a criminal offence
Yet, Cornwall Council offered suppliers £6 million to provide “staffing for unregistered places” across the county – and advertised the contract on a government website
Yet, Cornwall Council offered suppliers £6 million to provide “staffing for unregistered places” across the county – and advertised the contract on a government website
The crisis in children's care is now so deep that one council has been caught openly promoting a multimillion pound contracts to staff illegal children's homes. My latest for the @tbij.bsky.social 👇
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
November 13, 2025 at 9:55 AM
The crisis in children's care is now so deep that one council has been caught openly promoting a multimillion pound contracts to staff illegal children's homes. My latest for the @tbij.bsky.social 👇
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...