Shortage of Bristol care homes sees children sent more than 100 miles away

Children in care from Bristol are being sent to homes over 100 miles away due to a shortage of local places.

Bristol City Council is spending millions sending an increasing number of vulnerable children to care homes in places such as Manchester, Staffordshire and Cornwall.

Fees for out-of-authority placements are increasing and now cost about five times as much as sending a child to Eton College.

A shortage of children’s care homes within Bristol, coupled with a rise in demand, means the council relies on expensive placements outside of the city.

The council spent £23 million last year on out-of-authority placements for children in care.

The number of children in out-of-authority placements is also rising, and jumped from 55 in May 2023 to 85 in March this year.

Councillors warned the costs had become “absolutely huge”, during a meeting of the strategy and resources policy committee on 17 June.

Conservative Councillor John Goulandris said: “I know action is being taken and I know the situation is improving.

"But there is some urgency here because this figure is absolutely huge. I’m not sure there’s much more that we can do about it, but we need to keep our eyes on this one because it’s quite a major thorn in our side.”

The children’s and family service takes up over a fifth of the council’s day-to-day spending.

Last year the service spent £110 million, while the total revenue budget was £512 million.

Out-of-authority placements are the largest cost for the service, and costing more each year.

Tony Kirkham, interim director of finance, said: “It’s a difficult financial position for the council and this is a significant risk.

"There are a number of invest-to-save schemes that have commenced, but it does take some time to get registration for residential homes.

"The department is looking at all of the options available.”

The council is planning to open two new children’s homes in Lockleaze. Both are three-bed houses costing £442,500, but will only provide placements for one child each.

Across the country, many private children’s homes are run by companies making “high levels of profit”, according to a recent cabinet report, with an average of over 22 per cent operating margins.

• Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service