Children looked after and placement sufficiency strategy 2021 to 2024

This strategy sets out a summary of the action we will be taking over the next 3 years to make sure that we can provide placements for all children who need care. It is made up of 4 main areas and within each of these it covers a number of topics.

Where possible we want all our children to be in placements which will provide them with long term placement stability, and where appropriate to leave care. We describe this as achieving permanence for that child. Although it is sometimes necessary to move a child to provide them with a better placement our aim is to minimise the number of times each child changes placement as this can be very disruptive. To achieve permanence, it is essential that all our teams work effectively together to support each placement. Permanence can be achieved in a number of ways, not simply through adoption, for example a child can move to a special guardianship order or be matched for long term fostering. Each of these options gives the chance for the child to achieve stability and achieve their potential.

There are 3 main types of foster care available to our children who are looked after. Where possible we keep children with people, they already have some form of relationship with, this type of placement is called family and friends foster care. When a child is first referred to us, we will speak to any proposed carers to assess whether they will be able to provide the support that child needs. If we cannot find a suitable related carer, we will try to place them with one of our Buckinghamshire Council carers or ‘in-house’ carers. Only where we cannot identify an in-house placement to meet their needs will we then look to place them with an independent fostering agency (IFA). These placements are more likely to be out of the county and are also usually more costly.

There are some services which we are unable to provide ourselves. This may be because we do not have the required specialist skills or may reflect the fact that we do not have sufficient capacity to deliver these services. Where this is the case, we will commission services from others; however, it is essential that we manage this effectively to make sure that these placements support our vulnerable children to achieve their full potential.

Where children have needs which cannot be met through other types of placement we will seek to identify a residential home in which they can live. This more intense environment can ensure that children are given the help they need 24 hours a day. Where this type of placement is made we will review it regularly to ensure that it is still the best way to meet their needs and to support them to move to a fostering or more permanent placement when appropriate.