Placement stability for looked-after children
The government is committed to improving outcomes for looked-after children, an aim which is reflected in the public service agreement target on placement stability. We know that for this group of children, stability is a key factor that can make a positive difference to their lives; giving them the opportunity to form strong attachments with carers and friends, maximising their resilience, and improving their chances of achieving positive outcomes.
The PSA target is:
Narrow the gap in educational achievement between looked-after children and their peers, and improve their educational support and the stability of their lives, so that by 2008, 80% of children under 16 who have been looked after for 2.5 years or more will have been in the same placement for at least 2 years.
Click to view Qualitative Study: The Placement of Looked After Children (December 2005).
This study was commissioned as part of the Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme. Looked-after children are a key priority for the government within the programme. The study explores the factors which most influence stability for hildren in order to try to better understand what, at individual local authority level, most influences performance in providing stability.
The study also looks at stability in terms of diversion from care, early intervention and prevention and, for those who are looked-after children, achieving permanence in the longer term.
In 2005, 65% of looked-after children have been in same placement for at least two years, although there is wide variation in performance between local authorities. It is important that this figure improves quickly if outcomes for looked-after children are to improve.
This page was last updated on 02 July 2007
