The number of children’s social care placements costing £10,000 or more per week has increased twelvefold in five years, an LGA survey has revealed.
There were 120 such placements in 2018/19, rising to 1,510 in 2022/23, while the proportion of councils with at least one of these placements has increased from 23 per cent to 91 per cent over the same period.
The highest cost placement was £63,000 a week. For most councils the highest cost fell between £9,600 and £32,500 a week.
Nearly every council surveyed (98 per cent) said a lack of choice in placements was driving the high prices. More than nine in 10 (93 per cent) also highlighted children needing help with increasingly complex needs, including mental health needs or exhibiting challenging behaviours, as a factor.
The LGA has set out three key areas for government action: rolling out foster carer recruitment and retention programmes to all councils; expansion of children’s homes; and work on inpatient mental health facilities and placements for children with complex mental health needs.
Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: “It is concerning that in many cases, a lack of choice means provision is not fully meeting children’s needs. The astronomical costs of care placements mean there is less money available for councils to spend on earlier support for children and families.
“These findings are indicative of a broken market for children’s social care placements, but it doesn’t have to remain this way. With cross-government support, it is possible to make sure we have the right homes for all the children in our care.”