Calls in Bradford for more investment to help children

According to Bradford Council's latest budget report, there were 1,515 looked after children in Bradford between 2023-24, down from 1,586 in the previous 12 months. Looked after children are those placed under the care of the council.

Last year, the Local Government Association revealed most councils in the UK have at least one child in a placement that costs taxpayers at least £10,000 a week.

Bradford Council revealed the average annual cost it pays for an external child care placement is around £312,000 per child, with the weekly average cost being £6,000.

Across England, Department for Education figures show there were 83,840 children in care as of March 2023 - up two per cent from 2022 and a record high number. 

Children's charities have urged the Government to invest in a national campaign to recruit more foster carers and provide sufficient funding to ensure there are residential care places available for youngsters who need them.

Charlotte Ramsden, chief executive of Bradford Children and Families Trust (Image: Bradford Council)

Charlotte Ramsden, chief executive officer of Bradford Children and Families Trust, has backed such calls.

She told the Telegraph & Argus: "Together with our partners, we are committed to safely reducing the number of children needing to be in care as part of our three-year improvement plan and caring for them in family networks or locally when they do need to be in our care, subject of course to a careful assessment of their needs.

"With a strong focus on early help and working with families as part of a restorative practice approach, we are making progress and our numbers of children needing to come into care have reduced.

"In addition, a focus on discharging care orders where children are living in family or connected support arrangements and no longer need them has made a difference for some.

"We know that there is more to do, and the council and the trust are united on working with children, young people and their families to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people in Bradford."

Of the 83,840 children in care across England as of March 2023, 17,630 were placed more than 20 miles from their home, according to the Department for Education data.

Paul Carberry, chief executive at Action for Children, said: "So many children being sent far away from home is one symptom of a broken children's social care system.

"Much more needs to be done to increase capacity in the provision of safe and stable homes for looked after children.

"The provision of care must be rebalanced towards the public and voluntary sector. This will help ensure that the needs of children are better met, including their need to be in their home community close to family, friends, school and services."

Lynn Perry, chief executive of children's charity Barnardo's, added: "The number of children in the care system continues to rise, and while most are living with foster families, many local authorities are struggling to find specialist residential places."

She added the moves mean cutting children off from friends and family and result in them feeling lonely and isolated.

"The number one priority must be finding the right place for children to live where their needs are met, they get crucial love and support, they are kept safe, and they have the right help to recover from their past experiences," she said.

"The Government must do more to support children and families."

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We want all children to have the chance to reach their potential and grow up in a safe and stable home.

"Our ambitious children’s social care reforms should reduce the need for young people to be moved out of area, unless this is the right decision to protect them from risks such as violence or exploitation.

"We are investing £400million to support local areas develop children’s homes so individuals can be placed closer to home and reduce local Government reliance on costly emergency places for children."