Overview

This bill aims to improve the care of children in the UK who are looked after by local authorities and placed far from their homes. It mandates the publication of data on these "distance placements," requires local authorities to create plans to reduce their use, and establishes a national plan to coordinate efforts.

Description

The bill introduces several key requirements:

• Data Publication: Local authorities must collect and publish statistics on the number of looked-after children in distance placements (defined as 20 miles or more from their home) and those moved to such placements in the past year.
• Local Sufficiency Plans: Each local authority must create and publish annual plans outlining actions to meet existing legal requirements for children's care (section 22G of the Children Act 1989), reduce distance placements, and ensure children's involvement in placement decisions.
• National Sufficiency Plan: The Secretary of State must publish an annual national plan summarizing local authority data, detailing national support measures, and assessing their effectiveness.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't specify direct government spending figures. However, it's likely to incur costs associated with data collection, plan development, and potentially increased support for local authorities in reducing distance placements. The exact financial impact remains to be determined.

Groups Affected

• Local Authorities: They will face increased administrative burdens in data collection, plan development, and potentially increased costs in providing more local care options.
• Looked-After Children: The bill aims to improve their care by reducing distance placements and increasing their involvement in decisions affecting them.
• Families of Looked-After Children: The bill may lead to more local placements, potentially improving family contact and reducing the disruption caused by distance placements.
• Children's Social Workers: Increased workload due to data collection and plan implementation is expected.

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