Council Lancashire
Performance The percentage of looked-after children with three or more placements during the year. Years ending 31 March
Lancashire County Council was lingering behind other local authorities in 2006 with 15 per cent of its looked-after children recorded as experiencing multiple placement moves compared with the England average of 12.9 per cent.
The authority has managed to improve on this record and push the numbers down to 11 per cent in the year ending 31 March 2009.
This year, in an extra drive to reduce the instability that can negatively impact on a child's wellbeing and outcomes, the council has embarked upon a campaign to recruit 100 additional foster carers each year over the next three years.
Jennifer Mein, cabinet member for children and young people, says: "We are making major investments in the fostering service as part of our commitment to achieve excellence by 2011. Fostering plays an essential role in ensuring that Lancashire's children are safe and that they can enjoy life and achieve in their own communities."
Lancashire has recently carried out a review of fostering including a consultation with existing foster carers. As a result, extensive changes have been made to many aspects of the service, including improving allowances and access to training for foster carers.
Helen Denton, executive director for children and young people, says: "The key to achieving an outstanding fostering service is retaining and rewarding the excellent foster carers we already have and attracting new carers."
2006
England 12.9%
Lancashire 15%
2007
England 12.6%
Lancashire 12.5%
2008
England 11.8%
Lancashire 12.5%
2009
England 10.7%
Lancashire 11%
