Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Acknowledged
Committee took evidence on sustainability of children's residential care.
Conclusion
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Education (the Department) on the sustainability of children’s residential care.2 We also took evidence from the Children’s Commissioner, the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (a local government membership organisation), and the Children’s Homes Association (a membership organisation for providers of children’s homes).
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's introductory statement and outlines its ongoing decisive actions to address issues in the children's social care market, including £2.4 billion for early intervention, investment in fostering, creating over 600 specialist placements, and rolling out Regional Care Co-operatives. Further information will be provided to the Committee in six months.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. children's social care placements market, including a more complex and older cohort of children and young people in care, and differing sufficiency challenges across England. Local authorities (LAs) have statutory duties for care planning and providing appropriate placements for looked after children. They have the knowledge of their children and local provision and are best placed to make the right decisions for children and young people. The department is taking decisive action to address the issues in the market and support LAs to deliver their statutory functions. The department is providing £2.4 billion to support earlier intervention and reduce the number of children entering care through the Families First Partnership programme. For those who come into care, the department’s investment in fostering will ensure as many children as possible are able to live in loving families. For children with the most complex needs, the department is creating over 600 additional open and secure specialist placements and refurbishing existing secure provision. The department is also rolling out Regional Care Co-operatives (RCCs) which will harness the collective buying power of individual LAs and allow them to gain economies of scale. RCCs will be responsible for analysing future accommodation needs for looked after children across the region, publishing sufficiency strategies, recruiting and supporting foster parents, and commissioning care places. Further detail is set out in response to recommendation 6. As requested, further information will be provided to the Committee in six months.