The longstanding tension between local authorities and care providers over fee levels shows little sign of abating.
Research by Mutual Ventures into the view of local authority commissioners found some believe independent provider fees are “expensive, inflexible and unjustified” and there was a perception they are reluctant to accept children with complex needs, and if they do “they may insist on blocking out additional beds or increasing the number of staff per child, at the authority's expense”.
Evidence gathered by the Local Government Association (LGA) earlier this year found that the number of “high cost” placements had risen from around 100 a decade ago to 1,500 now. High-cost placements are deemed to be those that attract fees of more than £10,000 a week or £250,000 annually.
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