A report from the National Audit Office (NAO) also finds that local authorities “often base decisions on children’s placements on short-term affordability rather than on plans to best meet the child’s needs”.
The care system is facing increasing year-on-year demand and as of March 2013, local authorities in England looked after 68,110 children – the highest level for 20 years.
In 2012/13, a total of £1.5 billion was spent by local authorities on supporting children in foster care and a further £1 billion on residential care, while average spending per-child ranged from £131,000 to £135,000 (residential care) and £29,000 to £33,000 (foster care).
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