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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