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A lack of appropriate fostering placements has meant unnecessary numbers of Lancashire children are cared for in residential homes, but the situation is improving with focused, sector-led effort.
The mismatch has come at a high financial cost to the local authority – the full fee ranges from £2,500 per week for a mainstream residential placement up to £4,500 per week for a more complex package of care. This compares to £770 per week for mainstream foster care, and £1,300 for step-down care.
Spending long periods in residential care can also come at a cost for children and young people, who may become less able to adjust to a foster setting as time passes, and may be more vulnerable to exploitation.
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