Middlesbrough Council faces significant responsibilities as a corporate parent, managing care for hundreds of children while navigating budget cuts and rising needs.
Recently, the Overview and Scrutiny Board met to discuss these challenges. Councillor Luke Henman emphasized the importance of keeping young people safe, not just focusing on funding.
Currently, 658 families are getting “Early Help” from the council. This support aims to prevent issues from escalating. Additionally, 418 children are on Child in Need plans to ensure they stay safe at home.
There are 350 young people under Child Protection Plans due to safety concerns. The council currently cares for 504 children, a number that has remained steady for months.
Out of these, 165 are in internal foster placements, while 135 are in independent foster care. There are also 22 in internal residential placements and 77 in external ones.
Cllr Henman noted a discrepancy of about 100 children. Some are cared for at home but still under the council’s supervision, which he called a “halfway house.”
When asked about the maximum number of internal residential placements, Joe Tynan, the Executive Director of Children’s Services, said they operate at about 80% capacity.
The department’s budget for 2024/25 is £55 million, making up 38.5% of the council’s total budget. Cllr Henman pointed out that government funding has dropped significantly over the years.
He mentioned that the council had £81 million in 2013, but that number fell to £35 million last year. Meanwhile, the demand for children’s services has increased.
Cllr Henman highlighted the importance of early intervention. He believes it leads to better outcomes for young people and helps reduce costs in residential care.
MICA Councillor Jim Platt raised concerns about the budget increase, which rose by £16 million this year. A council report noted that children’s social care costs are a significant risk to the council’s finances.
Cllr Henman explained that costs are driven by the needs of young people, especially in a town with high levels of deprivation.
He clarified that while the department makes savings, increased needs often offset them. The budget would be much higher without ongoing transformation efforts.
Mr. Tynan mentioned that staffing and agency costs have been high in Middlesbrough. A stable workforce would be more cost-effective than relying on agency staff.
Placement costs are also a concern, with 77 children in external residential placements.
Dawn Alaszewski, Director of Children’s Care, noted past challenges with Ofsted inspections and the high number of children in care. Improvements are now being seen.
Conservative Councillor David Coupe expressed satisfaction with the council’s efforts but stressed the need to reduce external care costs.
Cllr Blades mentioned that increasing payments to foster parents 20 months ago helped save money and recruit more foster carers.
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