Labour to tackle out-of-area placements, says Nandy

Lisa Nandy, MP for Wigan, told delegates at an event at Labour’s annual conference in Brighton that she is contributing ideas on children’s care reforms to her party’s policy review being conducted by Jon Cruddas.

She said that the party’s policy on children in care and care leavers will be based on “relationships”.

“Too often I think the system drives a coach and horses through relationships at a time when children and young people need them most,” Nandy said.

“A future Labour government will support reform of the system based on relationships and the fact that they are special.”

This will include looking at ways of making more use of kinship care by overcoming existing financial barriers to children in care being placed with extended family.

“It seems crazy that money doesn’t follow the child regardless of placement,” she said.

“The decision should be based on what is best for them.”

Developing “fostering for life” schemes will be considered by Labour as a way of enhancing placement stability and security.

Nandy added that a Labour government would end the practice of children being placed in care outside of their local authority area, unless it was beneficial to them.

Earlier this month, statistics published by the Department for Education revealed that 46 per cent of children in residential care are placed in homes outside of their local authority area.

The practice has previously been linked to poor outcomes and issues including child sexual exploitation.

“We wouldn’t move children out of area unless it was right for them,” Nandy said.

She also hinted at children’s social work reforms aimed at improving outcomes for children in care.

“One of the reasons many children are so distraught and angry is because they have had so many social workers. It causes a lot of disruption,” she said.

“It is important that relationship is strong and constant.

“Instead of putting efforts into recruiting more people, we will look at the turnover of social workers. They are dealing with an incredible workload and pressures.

“We could do simple things such as providing administrative support so that they can get out of the office.”

Labour is yet to announce when Crudass’s review will be published.