An optimised model for supporting children in care and on the edges of care: national enablers, local delivery
This report sets out not only an ambitious vision for the future but also what one ‘optimised local delivery model’ for achieving it could look like. The vision and model are built on improving the outcomes and experience for children and families, and by improving the effectiveness of services, designed to address the unsustainable trajectory of spend on children’s services.
Children in care in 2015
Children in care in 2020
Estimated children in care in 2025
This work programme has focussed specifically on the system around children in the care of local authorities and those children on both edges of care (those at significant risk of being in care and those children who are currently in care but could be supported to return home safely, or care but could be supported to return home safely, or otherwise leave the care of the local authority). This scope includes services and support provided by both local authorities and partner organisations, while also considering the role of central government.
In setting out an ambitious vision and a model for the future of children’s social care, it is clear that significant change is required locally and nationally. The following recommendations and enablers (both local and national) are therefore put forward as the basis upon which an overarching reform of the children’s social care system could be built.
The recommendations and enablers are:
The proposed model comprises five underpinning pillars and a set of principles for how these can be delivered by local authorities as the lead agency for children’s social care alongside local partner organisations.
It should also be noted that this is proposed as one example of an optimised model to deliver the ambition, based on the evidence and experience collated in this report.
The voice, views and ambitions of children and young people will always be at the heart of what we do.
The way we do this is responsive to the age, stage and needs of each individual.
Implementation of the optimised model could:
* These savings figures are presented net of an ongoing investment cost of £205m required to fund more intensive support for children and families at the edges of care.
Reduce the forecast number of children being housed in residential care homes by 2025 by 37%.
Enable social care practitioners to spend an additional 25% of their time directly supporting children and families.
Reduce the forecast number of children in care by 2025.
Reduce spend on children in care by 19–27% by 2025 or between £1.4bn and £2.0bn.