A DEEPLY disturbed nine-year-old boy with violent tendencies was forced to spend four nights sleeping in the Department of Community Services offices in Wollongong because no other accommodation was available.

The boy's mother placed him in the department's care eight days ago because she could not control his outbursts.

The department initially paid to house him in a motel, under the supervision of a case-worker. But the boy became so violent that he damaged the room and the hotel manager demanded he leave.

Last night, in a statement emailed to the Herald , the department confirmed the case.

"Despite an exhaustive search, DOCS case-workers were unable to place the child somewhere he would be kept safe. As a result, the child was accommodated in a local motel from Wednesday [August 13] with around-the-clock supervision by DOCS case-workers who volunteered to help.

"However, the young boy has had a difficult start to life and can exhibit extremely challenging behaviours. In this instance, they resulted in significant property damage and a decision was made that remaining in the motel room left the boy at risk to himself and private property.

"As a last resort, he stayed at the DOCS office from Saturday [August 16] under the constant supervision of two workers while DOCS continued the search for a suitable alternative."

The department last night found temporary foster care for the boy. "The boy is now safe with a DOCS foster carer, who is being offered special supports to cope with his behaviour," the statement added. "This was an extraordinary situation and DOCS acknowledges that accommodating a child in a DOCS office is unacceptable."

A spokesman for the Minister for Community Services, Kevin Greene, said he was unaware of the case.