Teen in care claimed they prostituted themselves to afford drugs, Ofsted report alleges

A report has flagged how a teenager in care claimed they had sex for money in order to buy drugs.

The alarming revelation came from Ofsted's report into children's social care services, which highlighted the growing number of young people in care with substance abuse issues.

The in depth document drew attention to the concerns that the records did not make clear that the reported incident had been escalated, or additional safeguards put into place.

The consensus of the report was that children aged 16 and 17 were not having their needs met sufficiently, in areas relating to education, accomodation and a coherent plan for their transition out of care and into independent living.

The Department of Health and Social Care and Manx Care will use the report to understand what needs improving as they create a long term strategy for children in care.

A Children's Services Improvement Board has also been created, which will have oversight across the multi-agencies involved in children's services.