Ann McGauran 22 July 2019

Financial risk for children's services across London is 'unsustainable'

Children’s services across London are facing an unsustainable level of financial risk, a new report commissioned by London Councils has warned.

The report points to the value of investing in preventative services, but says fast-rising demand for children's services outstrips the level of resource available to boroughs. 

In 2017-18 all but one council in London was in deficit on their high needs expenditure and all but six were in deficit on their social care expenditure, according to the report from independent research consultancy Isos Partnership. The total in-year funding shortfall across both SEND and children’s social care in the capital was £185m.

The report said local government in London would support the Department for Education and the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to make representations to the Treasury in the run-up to the Spending Review for more investment to cover the shortfalls in funding.

The key recommendations for London Councils and boroughs include:

  • Reviewing the progress of sub-regional commissioning arrangements and sharing the learning between partnerships
  • Better identification of  the ‘hard to place’ older age cohort of young people presenting as looked-after children (LAC) or with complex SEND and rapidly trialling and evaluating initiatives for working with them
  • Setting up a Pan-London partnership for commissioning secure and semi-independent placements

London Councils’ executive member for schools and children’s services, Cllr Nickie Aiken, has written an opinion piece on this issue for The MJ (£).

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Casual Duty Managers (Sports Centres)

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£14.28 per hour plus 12.07% holiday relief pay al
Casual Duty Managers (Sports Centres)
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Community Support Worker - Centralised Safeguarding Triage

Essex County Council
£25395.00 - £32131.00 per annum + +26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Community Support Worker - Centralised Safeguarding TriagePermanent, Full Time£25,395 to £32,131 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Mechanical Engineer (Gas) - Harlow District Council

Essex County Council
Up to £450.0000 per day
Mechanical Engineer (Gas) Location, HarlowFull time, Temporary 6-12 Months £350.88 PAYE / £450.00 Umbrella Closing Date
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Principal Planner - Basildon Borough Council

Essex County Council
£50 - £55 per hour
Principal Planner - Basildon Borough Council Full-Time, Temporary 6 Months Contract 36.25 hours£50-£55 per hour Umbrella Closing Date
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Principal Systems Analyst Applications

Oxfordshire County Council
£46412 - £49282
The ICT Principal Systems Analyst will be the subject matter expert on the Children's Social Care and Early Help Applications. They will be aware of and will contribute to Application roadmap developments, keep abreast of legislative changes and customer Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council
Linkedin Banner