North Yorkshire Council to discuss strategy keeping children in care local
Proposed plans aim to strengthen community ties and support for children in care
North Yorkshire Council is set to consider a strategy that aims to keep children in care close to their families and communities, enhancing stability and support for both children and care leavers.
The proposed homes for children sufficiency strategy will be reviewed at the council’s executive meeting later. It outlines plans to ensure an adequate number of homes in suitable locations to address the needs of children in care over the next three years.
To prioritise maintaining connections with family and familiar places, the strategy advocates for supporting children to stay near their important relationships, schools, and local communities.
The initiative comes as pressure mounts on children’s services, with the council currently caring for 613 children — a notable increase since 2019, reflecting rising needs for complex support.
North Yorkshire’s extensive rural landscape presents additional challenges, with foster carer and residential care shortages leading to children being cared for further from home.
To address this, the strategy accompanies proposals to earmark up to £20 million from council reserves to enhance local care options, including recruitment and support for foster carers, specialist fostering arrangements, expanded accommodation, and enhanced emergency provisions.
Cllr Janet Sanderson, executive member for children and families, emphasised the focus on keeping children local, stating: “Our priority is to care for children by keeping them local, close to familiar faces and places wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so.”
The plans seek to balance increasing available homes and support services with matching efforts to improve stability, quality, and outcomes that facilitate a safe, settled environment where children thrive.
The strategy includes strengthening the council’s in-house fostering service and improving planning, forecasting, and collaboration with care providers.