THE rising cost of placing children in the care of Plymouth City Council can’t be allowed to continue, its leader says.
Almost 70 per cent of the budget for children, young people and families is expected to be spent on residential care this financial year with some placements for children with the most complex needs costing as much £40,000 a week.
The authority is looking at how it can provide its own placements rather than rely on private companies. Earlier this year, it asked the government to investigate the fees charged by some of the largest children’s placement providers as they made “eye watering profits from the most vulnerable people in society”.
A report commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA) revealed some companies had banked profits of more than £300 million last year.
Denne historien er fra September 17, 2024-utgaven av The Herald.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 17, 2024-utgaven av The Herald.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT SO FAR?
ERIC MORECAMBE would often slip his glasses to the side of his head as he merrily slapped the face of his comedy partner Ernie Wise on both cheeks before turning and walking away.
Early bloomers
Lift your spirits after the hard winter with colourful harbingers of springtime
Argyle's woes deepen after QPR defeat
MIRON Muslic's first week as Plymouth Argyle head coach ended with a 1-0 defeat by Queens Park Rangers at Home Park as his task to try to lead his new club to Championship survival became even harder.
Services can't turn pressure into points
DEVONPORT Services failed to turn pressure into points against Luctonians - and it cost them another defeat in National Two West.
Council grant up but £31m extra in welfare costs
CHILDREN'S SERVICES, ADULT SOCIAL CARE AND PREVENTION OF HOMELESSNESS COST MORE
Value unit remit vaguely defined
The Government's value for money advice unit is understaffed and poorly defined, according to the head of a cross-party group of MPs.
Pardon for Marcus Garvey
UNITED STATES President Joe Biden has posthumously pardoned black nationalist Marcus Garvey, who influenced Malcolm X and other civil rights leaders and was convicted of mail fraud in the 1920s.
Tributes paid to 'heart of family' charity worker
NIKKI PASSED AWAY DUE TO POST-OPERATION ISSUES
Govt 'prepared' as Trump tariffs loom
THE Government \"has prepared for all scenarios\", a Cabinet minister has said, as questions about President-elect Donald Trump's tariffs loom large ahead of the inauguration today.
Three hostages freed
THE last British hostage in Gaza has been released by Hamas, after more than 15 months of captivity, in what was described as \"ongoing torture\" for her family.