Reading’s Children We Care For Sufficiency Strategy Published

A new Council strategy has been published setting out how it will ensure children and young people who need care have access to safe, stable and appropriate homes and support, as close as possible to their families, schools and communities.

The Children We Care for Sufficiency Strategy has been created in response to the growing challenges facing children's social care at both a local and national level, with children's needs becoming increasingly complex, demand for specialist and residential care continuing to rise, and the ongoing pressures on the availability of fostering placements.

The challenges can mean children are placed further away from their support networks and communities, while also increasing the cost of delivering high-quality care.

The Council’s new three-year strategy outlines Reading's approach to strengthening local provision and improving outcomes for children and young people in care. Key priorities include:

• Increasing local placement options so more children can live closer to home
• Strengthening fostering and supported accommodation for older young people
• Expanding local residential provision for children with more complex needs
• Investing in prevention, family help and edge of care services to reduce the need for children to enter care where possible
• Working with providers, partners and local communities to improve long-term sufficiency and stability.

The strategy has been informed by local data, future demand forecasting and the views of children and young people with lived experience of care.

Councillor Wendy Griffith, Lead Councillor for Children's Services at Reading Borough Council, said:

"Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, stable and supportive environment where they can thrive.

“This strategy sets out our commitment to ensuring children and young people in our care have access to the homes and support they need, as close as possible to the people, schools and communities that matter most to them.

“By investing in local provision, supporting foster carers and strengthening early intervention services, we can improve outcomes for children while building a more sustainable care system for the future."

Lara Patel, Executive Director of Children’s Services at Reading Borough Council, said:

"This strategy provides a clear and ambitious framework for meeting the needs of children and young people in Reading over the coming years.

“It reflects what children and young people have told us is important to them and reinforces our shared commitment to helping them stay connected to their families, friends and communities wherever possible.

“By working together with partners, providers and local residents, we can create more local opportunities for children to receive the care and support they need to flourish."