Major effort must be taken to cut the numbers of children in care in Middlesbrough, a report has advised.
An independent review into Middlesbrough Council found that rates of “looked after children” are “significantly higher than is desirable”.
Consultant Peopletoo’s report comes after a dramatic surge in numbers since 2007, which means the town has now far higher rates than other similar locations and is in the top 10 nationally.
While the report accepted that Middlesbrough suffers from high levels of poverty, it said such a factor should not be simply be accepted as a direct cause.
Many authorities faced with similar poverty do not have such high rates, it added.
It said: “The front line staff we encountered had a general positive view of the council but a very negative view of Middlesbrough.
“...it is our belief that front line social workers have created a causal link between Middlesbrough’s ‘poverty’ and the high levels of looked after children. This needs to be challenged.”
Middlesbrough has a rate of 117 children per 10,000 classed as “looked after”.
The analysis found the reasons for sharp rise from 2007 were:
• Staff changes at the council which led to a less experienced management team although this is now experienced and stable again;
• Very high numbers of drug users and also a shift away from heroin use to cocaine which “may have surprised agencies”;
• High numbers of people coming out of prison back into the community;
• Lack of economic resilience.
The research found that “approaches to prevention and early intervention are currently weak”.
The study - carried out in August 2014 - said that it is “unlikely” that Middlesbrough will see a “significant drop” in the short-to-medium term but some reduction is possible over the longer term.
It set out eight recommendations to tackle the problem, which has put a strain on council finances.
These include setting up a programme involving groups including schools, health authorities and police
It also advised taking a “much more proactive approach” in communicating that numbers are “significantly higher” than expected.
The report was discussed at a meeting of the council’s children and learning scrutiny panel.
Executive director for wellbeing, care and learning Richenda Broad gave feedback on what recommendations had been implemented so far.
She said she had set up board which ties up the children’s social care and adult social care services to look specifically the issue.
Every school in Middlesbrough has a named social worker attached to it.
“Peopletoo - as well as Ofsted - have said that we’re not taking children into care that did not need to be,” she said.
“Every occasion they have said that when a child is taken into care it’s the right thing to do. The only thing they’ve said is it should have been earlier.
“We will never eradicate it (the number of LAC), we will do it when it’s right to do it.”
Councillor Jeanette Walker, chair of the panel, said the Troubled Families programme - known as Stronger Families in Middlesbrough - was “working well” in the town.
