A new long-term plan to improve the outcomes of Devon’s most vulnerable young people by overhauling how they are supported and cared for has been approved by our cabinet.
In a bold move away from the council’s previous preference to commission, rather than directly deliver, residential places for children in its care, councillors today (Wednesday 25 June) agreed to an ambitious multi-million investment programme to establish 12 new children’s homes; 20 specialist foster places; and up to four new therapeutic schools, over the next 10 years.
‘Growing Futures: Homes for children and young people in care in Devon’ aims to provide new homes, support, residential therapeutic care, education and treatment for children with complex psychological, emotional and behavioural needs.
Our plan will be delivered through a strategic partnership worth up to £156 million and aims to address deficiencies in current care arrangements.
We are required to provide suitable homes for children in care; but nationally an over-reliance on for-profit providers has contributed to rising costs and poor value for money.
In Devon for instance costs have almost doubled in five years amid rising demand.
There has been a 29 per cent increase in Devon children in residential homes since 2020 and many of those are not in the county.
The new strategy will aim to reduce costs and improve long-term outcomes for children through more stable, local, and therapeutic housing and education options.
Councillor Richard Jefferies, our Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care said:
“It’s not fair that so many children are living far away from their support networks, their friends and family; they want to be looked after by people who are nurturing and friendly, and they want to be close to activities and their school and they want to be able to make friends.
“The way things are now this is difficult to achieve, and it can result in many having several homes, relationship breakdowns and disruptions.
“Children in care are more likely to have poorer outcomes than their peers with a more settled homelife, they are more at risk of being excluded, and more likely to have a criminal record.
“We have been failing many of our children for too long and his needs to change; this plan aims to improve outcomes for all children in care.”
