The growing number of children in Bournemouth in need of foster care is a result of “better assessment by social workers,” placing at risk children into care.
Gill Bishop, service manager for Bournemouth’s Children’s Social Care, said, “There has been a significant increase in the number of looked after children and this is not just in Bournemouth it’s a national phenomenon.”
“This is rooted in better multi agency working that all professionals who work with children and families are much better at identifying risk and doing something about it.”
“Nationally there are more children entering the care system,” said Kevin Williams, CEO of The Adolescent’s and Children’s Trust, “this is due to better assessment by social workers, better understanding of abuse and neglect and changes in social work practice.”
Nicola Greene, Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services, reports, “currently we have 46 children who are in need of a permanent home in Bournemouth.”
“This is not a failure of the department though, we run an excellent service.”
Bournemouth’s fostering service, awarded ‘Adoption Service of the Year’ in 2012, is in need of additional families and social workers in order to find homes for the 46 children said Mrs Bishop, and the council has increased funding in order to facilitate this.
Main image credit: http://www.rescue-mission.org/
