A new report has revealed that Redcar and Cleveland fostering service has continued to recruit more foster carers allowing more vulnerable children remain living in the borough.
The report explained that in 2017 more than half of all fostered children had to be placed with independent fostering agencies, often outside the borough.
Now nearly 70% of children and young people are fostered with the council's own foster carers after the number of in-house carers rose from 80 to 120 following a recruitment campaign.
The Annual Fostering Report, which was discussed at Cabinet last week, showed that 175 children from Redcar and Cleveland were in foster homes in March this year. Of those, 120 were with in-house carers and just 55 placed with an independent agency.
The report explained that in-house provision supports more children in our care to remain in their home area making contact with friends and family more straightforward.
It also means that the council is able to provide consistent support to the foster carers. In-house foster care saves the authority money on agency payments meaning more resources can be spent on child welfare, including the training and support of foster carers. A survey showed 90% of the borough's foster carers felt well supported by the council.
Councillor Alison Barnes, Cabinet Member for the Children, said: “This is testament to a lot of hard work over a period of years. It is clear that the more foster carers we can support and train in our own borough and the more of our children we can keep near their homes the better the outcomes for those children.
“I'd like to pay tribute to everyone in our foster team and our amazing foster carers. I'm constantly amazed at the resilience and achievements of some of our most vulnerable children. That's a tribute to them but also our team and our foster carers."
Could you offer a home to a child or young person? Financial support is available. Get in touch any time by emailing the fostering team on 01642 444087 or foster@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Or, could you offer a home to an older teenager or young person? Financial payments are available for those who have room for a young person aged 16 and over. Call 01642 488433 or email Susanne.rhodes@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk