Looking After Children: At What Cost? - resource pack and leaflet

The leaflet outlines various options which social workers or foster care managers should consider using when developing a care package for looked-after children within their local authority. There is particular emphasis in the leaflet on the child's needs and on the effects which a change of placement may have on a child. 

The checklist (resource pack) is a practical tool to help those responsible for planning and commissioning placements or services for children living away from home.

All the information in the pack is based on key messages and costing methodology from a research study carried out in six local authorities in England and Wales and a subsequent piece of work to pilot the Cost Calculator - a costing tool developed as part of the research - in a local authority.

The aims of the study were to explore the relationship between costs and outcomes for looked-after children and to develop a methodology to calculate the costs to social services of supporting these children.

The findings from the study will be useful in supporting the effective commissioning of placements to create greater placement stability and improve outcomes for children. In particular the research emphasises the importance of long-term planning and supports the development of financial strategies that invest to save, which have been promoted as good practice through the Choice Protects initiative.

The information gathered enables practitioners to identify all the tasks carried out to support looked-after children before, during and at the end of their placements. The tables within the document assist the calculation of unit costs for looked-after children.