If as the German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer asserted, “The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children,” perhaps that society should turn to them for feedback. If we are serious about eradicating inequalities, those questions should first be directed to the least fortunate children and young people.

As many as half of those least fortunate individuals find themselves in residential care placements more than 20 miles away from where they would call home. This often results in loneliness, isolation and disrupted schooling. Local authorities in England have a legal duty to try to secure safe, local accommodation to meet the needs of the children they look after. Many however are being sent miles from home because of a shortage of placements.

For some years now, children’s homes have been a cash cow for overseas investors securing 20-30% profit on the backs of very vulnerable children who’ve been through some of the most traumatic experiences imaginable. As a result of profiteering, council spending on children’s care has risen from £3 Billion in 2010 to £7 Billion contributing significantly to the financial crisis now facing local authorities and the lack of available funds for essential, early intervention work.

In a speech to parliament this week, the education secretary set out the government’s vision in what she described as the, “biggest reform in children’s social care in a generation.”

The reform programme will invest in families, the social care workforce, multi- disciplinary working and regional collaborations. Bridget Phillipson emphasised the need to provide early support for families including the pilot of a much-needed Kinship allowance. There will be more support for serving social workers who will be at the heart of multi-disciplinary safeguarding teams and a national entitlement of enhanced practical and emotional support for care leavers.

New powers will allow the government to cap excessive profits in the residential care sector and Ofsted will have a remit to act against unlicensed care providers. The plans are wide-ranging and ambitious. They’ll require significant funding, determined leadership and a highly motivated workforce to implement them successfully.

The Children’s commissioner, Dame Rachel De Souza has just published a call for a new group of youth ambassadors. At least one of them should be care-experienced. They might bring their experience to bear in putting the new policies to what we might call, “The Bonhoeffer test.”