Major concern over national shortage of foster care places for refugee children

By The Press Association3rd November 2016News EnglandChild Protection, Childrens Services, Foster Care, Local Authorities, News England

A national shortage of foster care places has been identified as a major concern for councils caring for increasing numbers of refugee children.

Town halls have seen a jump in the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors arriving amid the international migration crisis – and it is set to rise further following the closure of the Jungle camp in Calais.

With the majority of youngsters being placed in foster care, a shortage of placements was cited as the main challenge for most local authorities, according to a report published by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS).

Earlier this year it was estimated that 7,600 foster carers were urgently needed in England.

Dave Hill, president of the ADCS, said: “This figure is now much greater as we prepare for the arrival of more unaccompanied children and young people in the coming weeks.”

He added: “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.”

The research also said that:

In March councils were supporting 4,689 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children – a number that is “significantly larger” now
Three-quarters (76%) of unaccompanied children and young people arriving in the UK were aged 16-17 and over 90% were male. The ADCS said this picture is likely to change as more children are reunited with family in this country under Dublin III arrangements
The most prevalent countries of origin for lone children arriving in the UK were Afghanistan, Eritrea, Albania, Iran, Vietnam, Iraq and Syria
Using data provided by dozens of responding councils, the ADCS calculated that grant funding provided by the Home Office covers on average 50% of the costs of caring for an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child

Mr Hill said: “The will to help these vulnerable children is largely strong in local government, and in local communities, but as our research shows the funding provided by central government is wholly inadequate.”

The research shows enhanced funding rates for councils cover the cost of some types of placements but not social work time and translators, he said.

Mr Hill added: “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.”

David Simmonds, of the Local Government Association, said the report “highlights the significant financial commitment that councils make towards the care of these vulnerable children”.

It is now “imperative” that councils get a long-term funding arrangement from Government, he added.

Earlier this week ministers announced that funding to local authorities to support and care for refugee children will be regularly reviewed, while the number of foster carers and supported lodgings where they can be housed will be stepped up.