Have your say on new placement strategy for children in care

Central Bedfordshire Council is consulting on a new strategy to ensure it has good quality homes for children in its care and further improve on its ‘good’ Ofsted rating for ensuring they have safe and stable homes. The Looked After Children Placements Strategy is also aimed at reducing demand on the care system by providing earlier intervention for children in its care, with locally-based services that work better together to help vulnerable families. Nationally and locally there is a shortage of foster carers in CBC while other residential placements are becoming increasingly expensive. Therefore, the strategy aims to: Provide quality placements that offer safe and stable homes and contribute to children and young people achieving positive outcomes. Directly provide or commission local accommodation to meet the needs of children and young people Ensure value for money by balancing the cost with quality and minimising the need for children to move placements. The