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Analysis: Looked-after children - Caring for children on a budget

3 mins read
Several councils across the country have cited the rising costs of caring for looked-after children as one reason for social services budget deficits spiralling into millions. Ruth Smith investigates why local authorities have been caught off guard.

To become a looked-after child, where a local authority becomes your corporate parent, is no simple process - you must meet strict entry criteria. And being looked after is not cheap.

In recent weeks several councils have reported major social services budget deficits, and a key reason, they claim, is the increasing cost of looked-after young people.

David Hawker, director of children's services in Brighton and co-chair of the Association of Directors of Education and Children's Services, reveals his department has a projected over-spend of 1.5m this year. "This is repeated around the country," he claims, "It's a very big headache that councils are having to support."

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