Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Not Addressed
Inconsistent capital funding and local authority competition impede creating children's homes where needed.
Conclusion
The Association of Directors of Children’s Services described inconsistencies in capital funding, and competition between local authorities for funding, as barriers to creating homes where they are needed. Where one local authority might be delighted to win several million pounds to develop in-house provision, another will have lost out. It told us that it would be in the shared interests of local authorities to have consistency of funding, 33 Q 4 34 Cambian (CCH0006) 35 C&AG’s Report, para 2.13 36 Qq 2-4 37 Qq 4, 20 38 Qq 81-83 39 C&AG’s Report, para 2.14 40 Q 18 41 Q 19 42 C&AG’s Report, para 2.14 43 Qq 85-91 12 assured over multiple years.44 The Department told us that its capital programme has focused on areas with significantly fewer residential places or with specialist needs, and that it is engaging with local authorities and potential social investors to develop its approach.45 It lacks a national picture of capacity to tell whether the places created are where they are most needed.46 44 Qq 15-16 45 Qq 84, 92 46 C&AG’s Report, paras 9, 13 13 2 Addressing pressures on the residential care system Barriers to increasing foster care
Government Response Summary
The Committee noted that the Association of Directors of Children’s Services described inconsistencies in capital funding as barriers to creating homes where they are needed. The government's response discusses providers of children’s homes not offering the places needed locally, but doesn't specifically address the funding inconsistencies.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
3. PAC conclusion: Providers of children’s homes, including local authorities, are not offering the places needed locally, leading to children being placed in homes that do not meet their needs.