URL: https://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=2388

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: The local authority is experiencing a shortage of foster placements, particularly for sibling groups and children with complex needs. This is resulting in: • Children being placed outside the local area. • Increased costs for independent fostering agencies. • Increases in children placed in residential settings where their plan is foster care. • Disruption of sibling relationships. A policy has been developed to support foster carers to receive financial support from the local authority to make alterations / extensions to their homes which enable them to look after more children. Foster carers have been surveyed and there is a strong interest in this scheme from them. Two foster carers have actively come forward and are requesting support to enable their current children to remain with them.

Content: The local authority is experiencing a shortage of foster placements, particularly for sibling groups and children with complex needs. This is resulting in: • Children being placed outside the local area. • Increased costs for independent fostering agencies. • Increases in children placed in residential settings where their plan is foster care. • Disruption of sibling relationships. A policy has been developed to support foster carers to receive financial support from the local authority to make alterations / extensions to their homes which enable them to look after more children. Foster carers have been surveyed and there is a strong interest in this scheme from them. Two foster carers have actively come forward and are requesting support to enable their current children to remain with them. (1)  To agree the proposal to offer housing alterations for foster carers, and note the draft policy Housing Alterations Policy for Bath & North East Somerset Foster Carers.    (2)  To agree the delegation of final approval for the policy and associated processes to the Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services.   (3)  To note  the allocation of £500,000 of capital funding for the works which is included in the proposed capital programme as provisionally approved, delegating responsibility for the full approval of the funding to the Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Director of Finance (S151 Officer), and to delegate decisions on each individual case to the Director of Children’s Services. This policy will help to address the shortage of foster carers, which is placing considerable pressure on children’s services and social care.  Currently, at least 11 children remain in residential care despite their care plan being foster care. To address this, the Council is developing a policy to fund home extensions or alterations for existing foster carers whose housing limitations prevent them from accommodating more children.   The policy will enable existing foster carers to care for more children in care.  Survey results show that an overwhelming majority of existing foster carers responded positively to the proposals.    Supporting more children and young people in local homes, means that travel times to school and other settings is reduced, and social workers and other have shorter travel times. This delivers a more sustainable model of social support that is both environmentally responsible and community focused. This project is part of the wide-ranging Children’s Transformation programme underway in Children’s Services.  No other options related to this project have been specifically reviewed.

Date of Decision: February 12, 2026