The growth in the number of looked-after children since 2015 has put increased pressure on local authorities to find sufficient care placements. Yet, evidence is emerging that this growth is not translating into more children being placed in independent residential settings, raising concerns among experts that the care sector is operating inefficiently.
Between 2015 and 2019, there was a 12 per cent rise in children in care, with latest Department for Education data published last December showing the number topped 80,000 by March 2020. Over the same period, children placed in residential care also rose by 12 per cent. However, the overall proportion of looked-after children in residential settings has remained the same at around eight per cent.
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