Number of children in care in Barnsley is below the national average

At the end of March 2020, there were 303 children in care, a rate of 59.7 children in care per 10,000 - below the 2018-19 national average of 65 per 10,000.

The Barnsley Corporate Parenting Panel report, which provides an update on the corporate parenting arrangements in Barnsley, with progress and outcomes for children in care and care leavers, will be discussed by members of Barnsley Council's cabinet at their meeting on June 24.

The report states that waiting times for assessments to CAMHS – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services - for children and young people in care has significantly improved this year, and will be a priority for 2020-21.

It also found school attendance for looked-after children in primary and secondary schools declined slightly, but the proportion of looked-after children with one or more exclusions from secondary schools reduced from 16.2 per cent to 12.9 per cent.

The report says: “While Barnsley has not experienced the significant rise in numbers of children in care as reported nationally and regionally, the local demand for long-term care placements, particularly for adolescents, has impacted upon our placement stability.

“Geographically, Barnsley is an area with a high volume of private children in care placement providers. There were 201 children placed in Barnsley by other local authorities at the end of March 2020.”

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