1/4 of kids in care in Rutland sent over 20 miles from home, figures show
The Government's being called on to keep kids in need of care in their local communities
Nearly 1/4 (24%) of kids in Rutland are being sent over 20 miles from home to access care, new figures show.
The research, from the childcare charity Become, shows that children in the East Midlands are some of the worst affected - with over a quarter (27%) having to move more than 20 miles.
The organisation's warning that young people who are placed further away from home are more at risk of developing emotional difficulties.
It's called on the Government to do more to keep kids in their local communities:
Katharine Sacks-Jones, chief executive of Become, said: "We hear time and again from the young people we work with that they've been made to move - often without warning - to an area they don't know, far away from everything that matters to them.
"Being moved can disrupt a child's education, life outcomes, and relationships - including with brothers and sisters who might live miles away. Poor transport links can make it difficult or even impossible for a young person to get to school or college, see their friends or stay connected to their community. Young people tell us how lonely, isolated, and stigmatised it makes them feel.
"It's unacceptable that children are being moved away, not because it's the right decision for them, but because there are no suitable options closer. It cannot continue.
'More children in care in England than ever before'
Katharine Sacks-Jones added: "There are 82,000 children in care, more than ever before, with numbers continuing to rise. Without urgent action this problem will continue to get worse. We need a national commitment and strategy to keep children close to the people and places that matter to them. All children in care deserve the love and stability they need to heal and thrive." The Local Government Association said: "We know that too many children are placed further from home than we would like, a result of what the Competition and Markets Authority described as 'dysfunctional children's social care market'.
"As the CMA recognised, councils cannot fix the market alone. The Government has committed to trialling two Regional Care Cooperatives to try to improve the availability of local placements, along with support for all councils with commissioning.
"However this will take time to see results, and better commissioning will not address a fundamental lack of suitable homes. Councils need support to increase sufficiency of placements quickly, with capital and revenue funding and support to roll-out those things that we already know work when it comes to recruiting and retaining foster carers."
A DfE spokesperson said: "Every child deserves to live in a safe and stable home and local authorities have a responsibility to place children in an environment that is in their best interests, usually within 20 miles of their home.
"We are investing £259 million to create more placements for children in high-quality and safe homes, while developing a new model for care placements to keep more children close to home networks."