A third of young people in council care were placed in accommodation more than 20 miles from their local area last year, a new report has revealed.
The County Councils Network (CCN) said the stark findings should ‘act as a turning point for children’s services in England’.
Since 2019, the number of young people put in care has risen by 7%, but there has been a 45% spike in the number being cared for in children’s homes and supported accommodation, according to the report from the CCN and consultancy IMPOWER.
Last year, 32% of children in local authority care lived in a residential or semi-independent home more than 20 miles from their local area, school and family, an 18% increase since 2019.
The report also projected that by 2030, councils would be spending £12bn on children in care, up from £6.6bn last year.
It called on the Government to invest £2.6bn into children’s services, as recommended by the 2022 Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, allowing councils to boost spending on preventative services.
It also said ministers should introduce a requirement for all young people to be cared for within their local area.
The CCN’s children’s services spokesperson, Roger Gough, said: ‘The Government’s commitment to reform is a step in the right direction, but change needs to come urgently and within 12 months of the spending review next year.
‘The Government has promised to fix the foundations: it should start by fixing the foundations of children’s services.’
