Probe fails to slash massive bill for looked after children at Bucks Council

A PROBE has failed to find ways of slashing ‘amazing’ taxpayer-funded costs for looked after Buckinghamshire children.

Buckinghamshire County Council is facing a multi-million pound bill for placing children in foster care, homes and special schools outside of the county.

A committee was tasked with cutting the bill as the authority faces a massive funding black hole and a rise in demand – but has failed to find major savings.

It found: “Members were unable to identify potential cost-cutting initiatives, although their recommendations aim to result in improved practice and in many cases lower cost.”

The children cost up to £5,400 a week with out of county placements costing £7.4m last year compared to £3.4m of placements in county.

Recently, BCC leader Councillor David Shakespeare said: “I’m sure the public will be absolutely amazed that some of these children are costing us and our taxpayers £200,000 to £250,000 a year.”

There are currently 360 looked after children in the council’s care and 133 are looked for outside of the county, where costly private care is used.

About 50 per cent more children have been brought into the council’s care in light of the Baby P scandal, a toddler who died from abuse despite council involvement in north London.

This has created ‘massive’ pressure on staff, the BCC report said.

And the recession had possible put ‘increasing pressure’ on families, leading to care proceedings.

But the probe said there were not enough residential school places, foster placements and social workers. There are ‘limited resources for early intervention’ for families in crisis.

Legal costs have also rocketed, from £400 per care proceedings application to £5,000, though this is expected to fall.

Added to the rise in cases this has put up the legal bill from £1.2m to £1.9m in two years.

Another pressure on budgets is an ‘increase in unaccompanied asylum seekers’ from 16 under 18s in 2008 to 30 now. Each costs about £750,000, including translator costs.

This cost £651,135 last year – compared to £217,126 two years previously.

The probe called for one senior officer to oversee each case, a review of social worker legal training and more help for families ‘on the edge of care’.

It said the authority was working with other councils to block buy care for five county children at £500 less a week at a new special school.

The review was conducted by a sub-group of the council’s overview and scrutiny commissioning committee. Its recommendations will be put to bosses.