Redcar and Cleveland Council faces placement challenges due to a 40% rise in children needing care since 2020.
The council struggles to place all these children, relying on one facility, Church View, which houses kids with complex needs. Foster carer shortages further impact both in-house and external agencies. This has led the council to rely on costly and sometimes low-quality external placement options. A project group will explore in-house solutions, a primary goal for 2025.
More children need help because families struggle with poverty, community issues, and organised crime. Trauma also significantly affects both children and their families, hindering their ability to meet the children’s needs.
The council aims for children to stay safely with their parents and believes they are making proper decisions. However, fewer children have long-term stability, with only about 65% having stable homes for over two years, a number that continues to decrease yearly.
Despite this, the council’s processes are strong, helping to ensure the right choices for children. New rules are in place for emergency care situations, with adolescents especially needing more support.
A special team helps youth facing exploitation. This safeguarding team shows positive results, with missing incidents dropping 62% since last April. Social workers are required to submit timely reports, informing care plans.
The council wants to reduce the number of children needing care. They want to find safe plans outside the system when it aligns with children’s best interests, also aiming to improve their education levels.
Success for care leavers is another council priority, believing they deserve good chances. A team currently supports 142 care leavers, providing advice and help with independence.
The council addresses housing issues for these young people, including housing experts in a decision panel. They coordinate housing for care leavers, partnering with Beyond Housing to offer “taster” flats for young people, letting them test independent living safely. About 93% of care leavers have suitable housing.
Three care leavers have become apprentices at the council, with seven more having recently completed them. Bettering education and employment rates is key, as the area’s number is currently below the national average.