Half of Bedford borough’s ‘looked after’ children are placed outside the area – but meeting a child’s needs comes before the location, a council committee was told.
The Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee was told on 21 March that every effort is made to place the borough’s looked after children (LAC) in the vicinity of the borough, but that their needs come first.
Harmesh Bhogal, the council’s chief officer for children’s services, said: “Obviously we adhere to the Care Planning Regulations and other legislation around ensuring the safety of our looked after children.”
The report presented to the committee said guidance to local authorities recognises that out-of-area placements may sometimes be appropriate in light of the needs of the child.
It added that several factors must be taken into account when considering this option including the child’s wishes and feelings, according to age and understanding.
This includes robust partners, working with agencies such as health and education to ensure that the needs of children placed out of the borough are consistently met.
“We complete our statutory visits even during the Covid pandemic, I’m really pleased to say, and all looked after children have had an independent reviewing officer,” he added.
Mr Bhogal said the council always strives to place its children within the borough.
“Often that’s not possible or appropriate,” he said.
“For some children it’s absolutely right that they are placed outside of Bedford.
“We have looked after children who are actually placed with family members, with connected carers, and not all of those connected carers live within the borough.
“They might live just outside of the borough or in other parts of the country, and it’s absolutely right that those children are placed with those carers,” he said.
The committee chair, councillor Charles Royden (LibDems, Brickhill Ward) asked if having 50 per cent of looked after children out of area was good or bad.
Mr Bhogal replied that Bedford borough performs “quite well”.
“There are many local authorities that have many more children outside of their local authority.
“If you look at the numbers…the vast majority are in neighbouring authorities.
“Those children that are placed just outside of Bedford borough, for example, if they have attended a school, what we always try and work towards not disrupting their schooling.
“We try and minimise the disruption as much as possible.”
The report showed that one child is placed in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland, and councillor Royden asked how the council remains in contact with children out of the area.
“Do they get face to face visits from the social worker? Is it all virtual,” he asked.
Mr Bhogal said he was “really proud” of how the service was maintained during the pandemic.
“Children, even they are placed outside of the borough will see their social workers face to face, even our children placed in Northumberland and sometimes beyond.
“If we have to travel to see those children for face to face talks that’s what we do.”
He added that contact has been increased with virtual visits.
Councillor Carl Meader (Labour, Kempston South Ward) asked what efforts are being made to bring children back to the borough.
Mr Bhogal said: “Each child has an independent reviewing officer, and what part of that role is to ensure that the permanence plans for children are progressed and that their placements are suitable and appropriate.
“So, therefore, there is an independent view on that as well.
“We are working towards increasing the number of in-house carers that we have within the borough, and that is a challenge.
“It’s a challenge not only for us, but nationally, and I’m pleased to say we have recruited to our recruitment and marketing officers.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to generate more interest in fostering locally within the borough so we can keep more children that come into care within the borough, which is what we want to do,” he said.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
