ROCKETING demand for care placements for vulnerable children in Barnsley has been laid bare in a new report - which revealed a 20 per cent hike in those requiring help was recorded in just a month.
The number of ‘live’ contacts at the end of October stood at 803 youngsters - an increase of 139 from September - while there were an additional 961 ‘information only contacts’ in October, which deal with requests for information from partners about a child’s welfare.
Like many local authorities across England, the demand for children’s care placements is increasing and leading to unsustainable financial pressures, bosses say.
The rise - which will be discussed by a scrutiny panel at Barnsley Town Hall on Tuesday - will see social care boss Matthew Boud, children’s services director Carly Speechley and cabinet spokesperson Coun Trevor Cave field questions.
A report said: “Performance across services is scrutinised by the executive director and service director through monthly performance clinics.
“The key lines of enquiry produced for these clinics allows individual service areas to discuss performance, highlight areas for improvement, and create solutions to difficulties.
“To support good operational management, there are weekly operational performance clinics that are led by the respective team managers.
“At the ‘front door’, the number of contacts at the end of October was 803, increasing by 139 between September and October.
“There were also an additional 961 ‘information only contacts’ in October, increasing from 651 in September, which deal with requests for information from partners.
“The number of children in care at the end of October was 379, increasing since September, although the number of children in care have declined since the peak of 421 in October 2023.
“There were 16 children admitted into care during October - over the last 12 months this figure has fluctuated between eight and 21.”
The findings come just weeks after ruling cabinet signed off on a £1.16m ‘edge-of-care’ services which targets children who are on the cusp of entering the system.
The scheme - which was a response to increasing demand for children’s care placements, according to the council - will focus on the 12 to 16 age bracket.
There were 27 missing episodes in October, involving eight children, while there were 26 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the service.
The report added: “Given the increasing reliance on expensive external residential placements, it is sensible to seek out a solution to try and stem the flow of new children and young people entering care.
“The edge-of-care service will provide intensive support to families with complex issues, such as domestic abuse and substance misuse, aiming to prevent children from entering care.
“We are going to create a team to deliver a series of evidence-based interventions which have demonstrated an impact elsewhere.
“The effectiveness of the service will be measured through various indicators, including reductions in the number of children entering care and improved family outcomes.
“The service aims to both reduce the number of children entering care as well as improving family stability this will generate cost savings for the council.
“As a result, we will see a reduction in the number of residential placements commissioned, a reduction in the number of children in unregistered placements and the age of children in care will be lower.”
