Executive Summary
The report
Offering analysis from a freedom of information request by Sufficiency.org.uk in September 2024 to every local authority responsible for children’s social care about their current placement mix from kinship care to unregulated provision. The analysis represents responses from 150 local authorities.
The intention of the report is to:
- give a clear regional and national picture of placement sufficiency by type, to assist with individual local authority sufficiency benchmarking and planning.
- investigate assumptions between placement type and over mix.
- highlight high performing local authorities and regions.
- identify regions requiring additional assistance in particular areas of placement growth.
When separated into types of children care placements in England on the 1st September 2024, in-house mainstream foster care was the most prevalent with 27.9%, closely followed by independent foster carer with 24.8% (52.7% when combined as ‘mainstream fostering’), then kinship care 15.6%, children’s homes 11.4%, registered supported accommodation 9.8%, placed with parents 6.0%, other 3.3%, Unregulated 1% and Secure 0.1%.
Regional and individually there were significant variances in the types and use of placements. The North East, followed by Yorkshire & Humber and then the North West rank as having stronger placement sufficiency than any other regions. However, there are local authorities who are outliers in every region.
Fostering
The North East had the largest percentage of children and young people (CYP) living with in-house mainstream fostering households (34%) and East Midlands had the least (24.8%).
The West Midlands placed more CYP with independent foster carers (30.6%) and the North East had the least (17.6%).
In terms of kinship care, the North West had the most CYP living with family, friends and people they are connected with (20%), the East of England had the least (10%).
When we include all foster placements including kinship, the West Midlands (71.9%) had the highest percentage of CYP in any fostering setting, the East Midlands the least (64.5%).
Children’s homes
As of the 1st September 2024, English local authorities placed 9,272 children or young people (CYP) in residential children’s homes, this equated to 11.36% of the children looked after (CLA) population. Of these placements only 1,058 were with 347 local authority operated homes, this equated to 11.41% of all registered children’s home population.
The East Midlands had the highest percentage of CYP in children’s homes with 14.6% of CLA and the South East had the highest total with 1,326 CYP. Yorkshire & Humber had the lowest by percentage with 9.9% and the East of England the lowest with 694 CYP.
In terms of LA operated homes, Yorkshire & Humber had the highest percentage of children living in their own LA operated homes with 24.1% and the highest total with 229. The South West had the lowest percentage of CYP in their own homes with 3.5% and the lowest total with just 28 CYP.
Regulated Supported Accommodation
On average across England, 9.8% of CYP in care were living in registered supported accommodation. The East of England had the largest percentage of CYP placed with supported accommodation (14.7%), the North East had the least with (4.4%).
Placement with Parents
On average across England, 6% of CYP in care were living with those with parental responsibility under ‘placement with parents’ regulations. The North West had the highest percentage of CYP placed with parents (9.1%), the East of England had the least (3.1%).
Unregulated
The South East had the highest percentage of CYP (under 16 years) in unregulated settings of any type (1.72%), the North West had the least (0.55%). Overall, the local authorities reported a total of 860 unregulated placements of all types across England. There is a theme around the highest users of unregulated placements, as a percentage of CLA, also not having their own children’s home provision.
Secure
On average across England, just under 0.12% of CYP in care were in a secure children’s home. All local authorities reported a total of 96 secure placements of all types across England on September 1st, 2024. There is a theme around the highest users of secure provision, operating their own or near another’s secure provision.
Assumptions
The data tells us that in most cases we can make 3 particular assumptions:
- If you have a high level of in-house fostering placements, you are likely to have less IFP placements and vice versa, unless you have low levels of kinship.
- If you have high levels of kinship care you will use less IFP placements (unless you have low levels of in-house carers) and supported accommodation.
- The higher the amount of ‘any type of fostering ‘placements a local authority makes, the lower the percentage of children’s home and supported accommodation they will need to make.
England wide averages
When separated into types of placements, in-house mainstream foster care is be biggest area with 27.9%, closely followed by independent foster carer with 24.8% (52.7% when combined as ‘mainstream fostering’)
Then kinship care 15.6%, children’s homes 11.4%, registered supported accommodation 9.8%, placed with parents 6.0%, other 3.3%, Unregulated 1% and Secure 0.1%.
The ‘other’ category includes placed for adoption (including concurrent planning), residential employment, NHS bed, family centre or parent and child unit, youth offending institution and residential school.
Download full report:
English Local Authority Children’s Placement Sufficiency Analysis December 24
Other reports
This report should read in conjunction with the Residential children’s home use in England – 2024