England: Councils Beg for More Help to Allow Kids in Care to Reunite with Families, as Data Shows a Third are Sent Back

Holly Bancroft - The Independent

One council worker said they had to ‘beg, borrow and steal’ to get the right support
 

Councils need more support to help children in care to reunite with their families, new research has warned, after data showed a third of children who go home are returned to care within six years.

Local authority workers said dwindling funding and a lack of expert staff were contributing to the breakdown of family reunifications.

A survey of 75 councils across England by children’s charities Action for Children and the NSPCC found 78 per cent wanted to provide more support to help families reunite but over two-thirds of those councils could not afford to do so.