Child care Social services say new scheme helps children and families

SEVERAL children in care homes outside Bristol have been brought back to live with families this summer.

- Alex SEABROOK Local Democracy Reporter

The scheme has proved successful so far with more than four times as many children brought home than was initially planned.

Across the country, councils have been spending huge sums of money on placing children in care homes, often run by companies owned by private equity firms which make a lot of profit. A shortage of foster carers combined with frequent family breakdowns are adding to the crisis.

In May Bristol City Council approved plans to put together a team of staff whose role is to stem this crisis. So far they have moved 33 children from care homes outside of Bristol back into their family homes or foster homes within the city, saving taxpayers millions of pounds and helping the children too.

Experts say that children often do better when staying with their own families or foster carers, rather than staying in care homes.

An update on the scheme was given to councillors on the children and young people policy committee.