Formal plan for kids in care may be years away

REPORT SAYS, ‘THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH'

- By STUART ARNOLD Local democracy reporter

A FORMAL strategy to support more children into in-house residential care in Redcar and Cleveland could be years away, councillors have been told.

A working group has been set up at Redcar and Cleveland Council to explore options for looked after children.

The council's director of families and young people, Danielle Swainston, told a recent scrutiny committee meeting it would look at current and future needs analysis of children in care, the availability of local accommodation and Ofsted registration provision.

Discussions with social workers would also be held and a plan drawn up to communicate with residents potentially living in the vicinity of such accommodation.

However, it was admitted that a ‘working strategy’ for supporting children this way could take a number of years to be finalised.