Sandwell Children's Trust launched in April 2018, but overspent in its first year by £6.9m due to higher than expected demand, with the number of children in care rising from 778 to 901 by March this year.
Although the overspend was covered via a one-off use of reserves and a carry forward overspend of £1.4m, expenditure in the second year of operation has continued to exceed the budget.
In response, the trust has announced plans to cut spending over the next four years, by attempting to reduce the number of children coming into care and the cost of care placements.
"We have developed a medium-term financial strategy that seeks to invest in initiatives that offer opportunities to make savings at the same time as better meeting the needs of our children and young people," the trust's annual report for 2018/19 states.
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