The In Loco Parentis report by think-tank Demos and Barnardo's, found that providing looked-after children with a stable, positive experience of care could save councils up to £32,755 per child each year.
To make this possible, the report recommends introducing a statutory duty on councils to offer family group conferencing, as well as mandatory mental health assessments for every child entering care and a "right to return to care" for all care leavers up to the age of 24.
Ann Baxter, chair of the Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) health, care and additional needs policy committee, said the ADCS supports the "moral imperative" behind the recommendations.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
