CYP Now - Review of Sufficiency Strategies in London

Demand for children's services has been increasing nationally in recent years. Changing demographics and evolving complexity of needs are also exerting cost pressures on local authorities. At the same time suitable accommodation is in short supply in the regulated children's homes sector and there are concerns about the increased use of unregulated placements. The situation is particularly acute in London.

Challenges and trends seen in the London study are likely to be recognised elsewhere. Picture: Stefan/Adobe Stock

Local authority sufficiency strategies articulate how councils meet their duty to provide accommodation and support for looked-after children. This study examined the sufficiency strategies for the 33 London authorities to look at sustainability initiatives and to inform collaborative approaches across London and provides a high-level analysis on commissioning strategies across London boroughs.

Among cost and budget pressures councils identify high-cost low-incidence placements as a common cause of pressure. However, there is no clear or consistently applied definition of this terminology.

Several London councils were aware that their approach to the use of residential provision – where children considered to be difficult to place were at times “escalated” as a last resort – was a contributing factor to that increased cost pressure.

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