New LGA analysis on children’s social care overspend

Commenting on new analysis by the LGA on overspend in children’s social care Jenny Coles, ADCS Vice President, said:

“That local authorities across the country are overspending on their children’s services should come as no surprise; it’s a symptom of the chronic underfunding of local government and children’s services at a time when more children and families need help and support. This is a false economy and is only storing up human and financial costs for the future.

“Irrespective of the funding available local authorities will continue to work hard to keep children and young people safe from harm and to protect spend on children’s social care services. However, this has meant funding has been diverted away from services that our communities depend on, such as children’s centres, youth services and libraries. Many of these services provide a vital safety net before crisis hits some of our most vulnerable families and reduces future need for more specialist services as families and young people have been supported at an earlier stage.

“Let me be clear our children and families deserve more than just the bare minimum levels of resourcing and support. The eyes of ADCS members are firmly on Budget day and the forthcoming Spending Review when we hope the Treasury will do the right thing by investing in children’s futures and by providing sustainable, equitable funding for all local authorities.”

ENDS

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