NCAS conference: Child refugee costs 'unsustainable', councils warn

A study by the Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS), published at the National Children and Adult Services Conference in Manchester, found that despite Home Office funding increasing as of 1 July to £114 a day for under-16s and £91 a day for 16- and 17-year-olds, the money provided covers on average only 50 per cent of the true cost.

In total, 43 of the 44 local authorities who answered questions on funding felt that national funding was insufficient, despite many councils saying they had taken action to manage and reduce costs.

Three authorities predicted they would have to stump up an additional £1.5m to £2m to pay for supporting increasing numbers of unaccompanied asylum-seeking and migrant children.

Just last month, Leicestershire quit a national scheme to evenly distribute asylum seekers across the country, claiming that it could cost it an additional £2m a year if it was asked to take on 70 children.

It is thought there could be in the region of 30 councils that have not signed up to the scheme over similar concerns, although the Home Office has refused to confirm the precise figure.

Dave Hill, president of the ADCS, said there is a strong will within local government to help asylum-seeking children but added that funding provided by central government is "wholly inadequate".

"As shown by the research, the enhanced funding rates made available to councils covers the cost of some types of placements but not social work time and translators," he said.

"To date, the gap in funding has been filled by individual councils but this is not sustainable. We are increasingly concerned that our ability to meet the needs and wishes of these children and young people could be compromised as a result of this.

"We must put aside politics and remember that each child has their own story and their needs must be at the forefront of every decision we take from now on. The government must act swiftly to address the shortfall in funding and placement options that councils currently face to enable us to meet the needs of all those displaced."

Hill told CYP Now that since July, nine or 10 unaccompanied children a week have been arriving in England, with many being placed with local authorities through the national dispersal scheme. However, following the clearance of the "jungle" refugee camp in Calais, around 20 to 25 a day are now expected.

Although he expects levels to fall again, he said the anticipated surge in arrivals could mean councils are less able to support more child refugees long term.

One of the concerns is that there will not be enough foster care placements for all children who need one. The report reveals more than 75 per cent of respondents stating that they were facing shortages.

Research earlier this year by the Fostering Network estimated that an additional 7,600 foster carers were needed in England, even before taking provision for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children into account.

Hill said the ADCS wants the Department for Education to launch a national campaign to boost foster care recruitment.

"Finding a safe, suitable placement is the main priority for us but it is getting increasingly difficult due to the ongoing national shortage of foster carers.

"This crisis is driving up the usage of independent fostering agencies out of necessity and this in turn is driving up costs and draining already stretched council budgets. Sadly, the foster care market has become an opportunity for a small number of operators to make a huge profit from children and this is utterly unacceptable."

This week, the government committed to producing a strategy for supporting unaccompanied children by May next year. It will contain plans to boost numbers of foster carers, and the government has also committed to reviewing the level of funding it provides councils.