Her Story

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"Robyn" was in the Care , after a two-hour drive

Six of the 10 largest providers of children's homes and foster parents-Care for persons away from their family huge debts, proposes to run a report for the councils in England.

The Local Government Association fears, financial instability, which could have endangered the children in danger.

And some councils report fights, in search of suitable places for needy children in the vicinity of their families.

The Independent children's Homes Association to blame funding cuts for The Squeeze On Children 's homes.

In the 1990s, the majority of children's homes were in The Public sector, But over 80% are in the private or voluntary sector hands, the thought that better value for money.

But now, escalating costs and difficulties in finding places in the vicinity that some councils are re-opening their own children at home.

"It was frightening'

Robyn was eventually moved into foster Care in their home, The City of Liverpool, But it lasted More Than a year,

Robyn (whose name we changed to protect her identity) was 12, as they worried for their own safety.

But the next children's home that was from her place, nearly two hours drive away.

one night, a social worker and took her away from her family to a residential building.

"I didn't know what The Town was called, or on The Street ," she says.

your story is all too common in a child-Care system, councils say, struggling with the increasing demand and rising costs.

she adds: "I was really close to all my teachers and me to the school.

"I felt very isolated, with no one, no friends.

"I was sitting in my room for days, watching TV and has to do no school work - it is hard. "

she was finally a family moved into a Care in your home, The City of Liverpool, But it lasted More Than a year.

Liverpool City Council says that the difficulties in the search for places is a sign of big problems facing the health Care .

councillor Barry Kushner, who is The Council Cabinet member for children's services, statements of some of the larger providers, you fill a place on the basis of how much a Council to pay, rather than whether it is local to The Child .

Liverpool councillor Barry Kushner, said The City was the re-opening of a part of one's own children's homes

"The costs for residential Care have risen in The Last three years, about 30%," he says, and with Robyn the placement alone is £3,500 a week.

He accepted that some costs will increase, because of The Complex needs of the children, But also worries about the sovereign debt in some of the larger companies.

"Where, I wonder, is collected, where this additional cost for The Council due to the internal financing of these organizations, because anyone who has this or who invest in you.

"And the councils should not really take, the The Bill for this. "

complex

Liverpool, like A Number of other authorities, is now closed re-opening some of its own children in the houses, almost ten years ago, from The Charity , Barnardo.

The LGA report shows that most of the largest Care providers have values more debts and liabilities than assets.

Many of the large companies are private equity-funded, which means often, loans were used to buy The Business , with the aim to make a profit when it is sold.

councils have seen a significant increase in costs for the placement of a child in a domestic or foreign placement, in part because of the increasingly complex needs of many children.

But The Report also says that the six largest independent companies £215m in profit in the past year, with some More Than 20% profit on their income.

The LGA wants more transparency of costs and for the credit of large companies to be monitored in order to avoid a similar scenario, the collapse of adult-Care -home provider Southern Cross in 2011.

"Excessive profits"

Judith Blake, the Chairman of the LGA children and Young People Board, says much of the growth of the largest suppliers "has been fueled by enormous loans, at some point the numbers have to go back, But it is not showing this research, many of them have The Assets to do that."

she added: "the stability for children in Care is of the utmost importance. and a provided scheme is required to help the provider catch them before they fail, and ensure not risk the quality of the offer.

"should not make the provider also, excessive profits from the provision of internships for children.

you want to check a government-promised review of child Care to better support the in-house provision and smaller providers.

Peter Sandiford is the chief executive of The Independent children's Homes Association

The Independent children's homes Association represents both large and small private Care company as well as the non-profit sector at home.

It says The Report on the value for money and quality of Care that many independent Care company.

It ' s chief executive, Peter Sandiford, says he would be concerned if the amount of the debt, which grows by some companies, But the probability that one of these corporate failure "at the moment, probably not very high".

He also believes that, instead of-Care companies make big profits, many of the smaller providers are struggling to, on the fees that municipalities pay.

With the increasing number of children in need of support, he would like to, independent service providers and municipalities to work more closely together to plan what is needed.

"What we are seeing is a growing industry, and you have more homes to look after very vulnerable children.

"I don't think, to say that we can afford, one thing is not true, because we need the entire range (of houses). "

A spokeswoman for The Department for education said an additional £1 Billion used in new funds to children's and adults social Care , added: "The safety and suitability of a child's placement in Care is our absolute priority, which is why we check The System so that children receive The Best possible Care . "

local government association, ministry of housing, communities & local government, children, liverpool

Source of news: bbc.com