Comment: Become report on out of area placements

Nigel Minns, Chair of the ADCS Health, Care and Additional Needs Policy Committee, said:

“This report from Become outlines an urgent and longstanding national issue that we continue to raise with government - a lack of local placements for children in care. Finding homes that meet the needs of children in our care and keeping them safe is a priority for all local authorities. Whilst placing children as close to their community, family and friends is always preferable there are good reasons why children might be placed out of area, such as where there are concerns about their safety locally. The child’s voice is important but their wishes and preferences can, sometimes, conflict with choosing the best placement for them. More children than we would like are placed further away because of a lack of suitable local placements and we need the government’s support to address this.

“Any increase in the number of out of area placements must be viewed in the context of a 35% increase in the number of children in our care since 2008, a shortage of foster carers and placements in residential children’s homes, as well as a mismatch between the location of these placements and need. Local authorities are working hard to overcome the sufficiency challenges they face by investing in their own children’s homes and in campaigns aimed at recruiting and retaining more foster carers, but this alone cannot solve the problem, nor will a response that looks at commissioning practice only. The placements we need simply do not exist. We urgently need a comprehensive placement strategy which addresses shortages across all types of placements to meet the needs of children and young people. We also need the government’s support in addressing the increasing costs of placements and profiteering on the backs of vulnerable children.”

ENDS

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