Fall in number of children in care in Stoke-on-Trent

The number of children in care in Stoke-on-Trent has finally started to fall – after rising almost non-stop for a decade. Official figures show that the number of youngsters looked after by Stoke-on-Trent City Council dropped slightly from 1,156 to 1,143 between April and June.

But council leaders say this downward trend has continued since then, with a total fall of around 70. The number had previously been rising almost continuously since 2014, more than doubling over this period.

Stoke-on-Trent has more children in care relative to population than any other area in England, and the excessive cost of private sector placements is one of the main reasons for the city council’s dire financial situation. Council leader

Jane Ashworth says the reduction in the number of children in care has come as a result of measures such as Family Matters – a multi-agency programme which aims to provide support to families and prevent their problems escalating.

Cllr Ashworth told a full council meeting that the figures show this approach is working. She said: “It’s been going for about nine months now, and we’ve already been able to help more than 300 families across our city in that short time. That’s thanks to the community organisations which have stepped up to really help us to make that difference. They know their communities better than we do so they’re best positioned to be able to provide that immediate, instantaneous help.

“So I’m really pleased to be able to say we’ve seen an encouraging drop in the number of children in care. It has been rising for a long time. It’s now down, not hugely – it’s gone down by perhaps 70 – but that’s good. We have started to break the back of getting more children reunited and staying with their families safely.

“The staff have done tremendously well to make that change in their practice, to get more children at home safely.”

The Family Matters programme recently expanded with the launch of the Chell Heath Family Hub, at the site of the former Stoke-on-Trent North Children’s Centre in Bishop Road, Chell Heath. Family hubs act as a one-stop shop for families, providing support around education and wellbeing along with children’s activities and advice on subjects such as household budgeting.

The Chell Heath facility joins similar hubs in Shelton, Bentilee and Longton, which have been developed thanks to £3.5 million of government funding.

Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “The vision for family hubs is to create easily accessible family support for everyone, in the knowledge that strong family relationships enhance the wellbeing of individuals and communities alike.  We know that more early support means more children can remain with their families and fewer children need to come into care. This means every Family Hub is extra vital early help to keep children safely with their families.”

Earlier this year the city council was allocated £42.2 million of exceptional financial support by the government, to help it balance its books. Some of this money is being spent on expanding early intervention services to bring down the number of children in care.