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Response by Head of Service: Thank you for your questions which I have repeated below with the responses. Question Response Use of residential care for children in mainstream education On what basis is it considered necessary for a child to be placed in a children’s home if they are assessed as suitable to attend a mainstream school? Placement in a children’s home is not determined solely by educational suitability. Even if a child can attend mainstream school, they may have complex emotional, behavioural, or safeguarding needs that cannot be safely or effectively met in a family-based setting (such as foster or kinship care). These needs often stem from trauma, neglect, or repeated placement disruptions, requiring a higher level of therapeutic or structured support than family-based care can provide. Children may be placed in residential care if there are significant safeguarding concerns—such as risk of exploitation, self-harm, or harm to others—that cannot be managed in a foster or kinship environment. Residential settings can offer 24/7 supervision, specialist staff, and a controlled environment to address these risks. Residential care is considered when no suitable foster, kinship, or specialist boarding placements are available or appropriate. This includes situations where enhanced or specialist foster placements have been formally considered and ruled out, with reasons recorded. Powys County Council’s placement strategy emphasises that residential care should be used as a last resort, only when it is in the child’s best interests and all other options have been exhausted. The aim is always to keep children as close to home and community as possible, and to step down to family-based care when appropriate. What criteria or thresholds are used to decide that residential care is required, as opposed to foster care, kinship care, or other family-based arrangements? Residential care is considered only when a child’s emotional, behavioural, or safeguarding needs are so complex that they cannot be safely or effectively met in a family-based setting (such as foster or kinship care). These needs may arise from trauma, neglect, or repeated placement disruptions, and require a higher level of therapeutic or structured support than family-based care can provide. If there are significant safeguarding concerns—such as risk of exploitation, self-harm, or harm to others—that cannot be managed in a foster or kinship environment, residential care may be required. Residential settings offer 24/7 supervision, specialist staff, and a controlled environment to address these risks. Residential care is only considered when no suitable foster or kinship are available or appropriate. This includes situations where enhanced or specialist foster placements have been formally considered and ruled out, with reasons recorded. Powys County Council’s placement strategy emphasizes that residential care should be used as a last resort, only when it is in the child’s best interests and all other options have been exhausted. The aim is always to keep children as close to home and community as possible, and to step down to family-based care when appropriate. Consideration of alternatives In each of the five current cases, has the Council formally considered enhanced or specialist foster placements, including agency carers, and recorded reasons why these were not pursued? Yes, the Council has formal processes in place to consider enhanced or specialist foster placements—including IFA carers—for each case. All placement requests are signed off by Team Managers, and all searches are logged, in line with Council practice guidance. All residential placements need advance approval from Head of Service. How are kinship options being explored before a decision is taken to place a child in a residential setting? A family network meeting will take place within a family to determine what family members are available to offer support and or care for a child as a family arrangement. Has the Council considered the use of specialist boarding provision, such as schemes like Royal Springboard and similar, where these may provide stability and good educational outcomes at lower overall cost than high tariff children’s home placements? Children’s Services have used Boarding School arrangements for some children who are looked after; however, this type of provision is not typically able to meet the needs of children who have complex needs due to: Complexity of Care Needs • Children with high therapeutic or clinical needs often require intensive, on-site support that boarding schools cannot provide. • Boarding environments are structured for education and pastoral care, not for managing complex mental health or behavioural interventions. Stability and Attachment • Many looked-after children have experienced placement breakdowns or trauma. Moving to a boarding school can feel like another disruption, especially if they have strong ties to siblings or foster carers. • Boarding placements may limit family contact on a weekly basis, which is crucial for maintaining relationships and identity. Safeguarding and Legal Responsibilities • Local authorities remain the corporate parent, so the welfare and safeguarding of the child is of paramount importance. Boarding schools are not registered children’s homes, so they cannot meet statutory requirements for certain care plans. Emotional Readiness • Boarding requires a degree of independence and resilience. Children with significant attachment difficulties or trauma triggers may struggle without daily therapeutic support. Placement Matching • Royal Springboard focuses on children who can thrive academically and socially with wraparound support. For some looked-after children, the priority may be stability and therapeutic care, not academic acceleration. Safeguarding and quality of provision What assurances can you provide that these residential settings are safe, stable, and appropriate for the children concerned, given the serious safeguarding concerns that have been raised nationally about some children’s homes? Registered children’s homes operate under a highly regulated system, with mandatory qualifications, Ofsted or CIW oversight, and statutory safeguarding standards. While concerns exist nationally, these frameworks are designed to ensure homes are safe, stable, and appropriate for vulnerable children. Powys has contract monitoring officers who visit and monitor placements. Social Workers have a legal requirement to visit regularly to ensure childrens needs are met in a safe environment. Within one week of placement. At least every six weeks for the first year. Every three months thereafter, or more frequently if needed. These visits are part of the child’s Looked After Child (LAC) review process. Purpose of Visits • Check safety and welfare: Ensure the home is meeting the child’s needs and safeguarding them effectively. • Monitor care plan progress: Confirm education, health, and emotional needs are being addressed. • Voice of the child: Social workers speak directly with the child, often alone, to hear their views and concerns. • Escalate issues: Any safeguarding concerns are reported immediately through statutory channels. Additional Oversight • Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) also review placements regularly. • CIW \ Ofsted inspections and Regulation 44 visits (monthly by an independent person) provide external scrutiny. How is the Council assuring itself on a regular basis that children in these settings are not being exposed to exploitation, including criminal or sexual exploitation, and that they are receiving consistent, nurturing care? Statutory Social Work Visits • Frequency: Within 1 week of placement, then at least every 6 weeks (first year), then every 3 months. • Purpose: Speak to the child alone, check safety, review care plan, and identify any signs of exploitation or neglect. • Action: Escalate concerns immediately through safeguarding procedures. Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) Oversight • Chairs Looked After Child Reviews at least every 6 months. • Ensures care plan addresses risks of criminal or sexual exploitation (CCE/CSE) and that nurturing care is provided. • Challenges the local authority if standards are not met. Regulation 44 Visits • Monthly visits by an independent person to the home. • Reports on safeguarding, quality of care, and any concerns about exploitation. • Findings shared with Ofsted and the placing authority. CIW \ Ofsted Inspections • Homes inspected under the Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF). • Focus on safety, leadership, and outcomes for children, including protection from exploitation. Risk Assessment & Multi-Agency Checks • Children’s homes must maintain individual risk assessments for CCE/CSE. • Councils use Missing from Care protocols, contextual safeguarding approaches, and multi-agency exploitation panels to monitor risks. Voice of the Child • Regular direct work with children to understand their experiences. • Use of advocacy services and feedback mechanisms to identify concerns early. Data & Performance Monitoring • Councils track: • Missing episodes • Police intelligence on exploitation risks • Outcomes from Regulation 44 reports and Ofsted ratings • Senior managers review trends and act where patterns emerge. Scrutiny and oversight of individual placements What process is in place in Powys to review these very high-cost placements at senior level, including Independent Reviewing Officer oversight and any additional management or panel review? Independent reviewing officers oversee and review every care plan for a child who is looked after and where there is statutory guidance in terms of reviewing and timescales. High-cost placements are reviewed through a senior manager scrutiny panel regarding value for money, care plans, and the next steps for children. All information is shared at the closer to home board meeting which is chaired by the Head of Children’s services. Are you satisfied that each of these placements would stand up to detailed scrutiny of the child’s file, the care plan, the placement rationale, and the alternatives considered? To confirm that all residential placements for looked-after children are subject to rigorous scrutiny and meet statutory and best practice standards for safety, stability, and appropriateness. Placement Decision Process • Clear rationale documented in the child’s file explaining why the setting meets assessed needs. • Alternatives considered and reasons for rejection recorded. • Multi-agency planning ensures safeguarding and stability are prioritized. Care Planning • Care Plan addresses emotional, behavioural, education, and health needs. • Includes strategies to mitigate risks of exploitation (CCE/CSE). • Reviewed regularly by Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO). Ongoing Oversight • Statutory social work visits within 1 week, then every 6 weeks, then every 3 months. • Regulation forty-four independent visits monthly, reporting on safeguarding and care quality. • Ofsted\ CIW inspections ensure compliance with Children’s Homes Regulations 2015. Safeguarding Against Exploitation • Individual risk assessments for CCE/CSE maintained and reviewed. • Multi-agency exploitation panels and Missing from Care protocols in place. • Data on missing episodes and placement stability monitored by senior managers. 5. Quality Assurance • Regular case file audits check placement rationale, care plan quality, and child’s voice. • Findings reported to Corporate Parenting Board for continuous improvement. The Council is satisfied that each placement can withstand detailed scrutiny of the child’s file, care plan, placement rationale, and alternatives considered. These processes ensure children are safeguarded, protected from exploitation, and receive consistent, nurturing care. Will you commit to a formal review of all current children’s home placements for children in mainstream education, to ensure that residential care is truly being used as a last resort and remains in each child’s best interests? Whilst I thank you for your interest in care plan’s being in the best interest of each child. It is my view that the children in our residential homes who attend mainstream school do not require any formal review of their individual care plans. The Independent reviewing officer scrutinises the care plans for each child and if any escalation is required regarding a child’s best interests, then this can be formally raised through an escalation process. Financial governance and future strategy How do these figures align with the Council’s sufficiency strategy for looked after children and the requirement to secure good outcomes in a way that is both lawful and financially sustainable? The Council is actively expanding its pool of in-house and specialist foster carers, aiming to reduce reliance on high-cost residential placements. This includes targeted recruitment, training, and the introduction of reflective carer models for short-term and emergency placements. In line with Welsh Government requirements, Powys is preparing for the 2030 deadline to eliminate profit from the care of looked after children. What steps are being taken to reduce reliance on high-cost residential placements where children’s needs can appropriately be met in family settings? Powys Fostering Framework business case has secured investment with a key aim to Expand Foster Care Capacity • Specialist Foster Carers: Recruitment drive for carers skilled in supporting children with complex needs, step-down from residential care, and emergency placements. • In-House Pool Growth: Increasing the number of in-house foster carers to reduce reliance on independent agencies and residential care. • Reflective Carer Model: Introducing carers who can provide short-term and emergency placements, offer flexibility, and reduce crisis-driven residential admissions. Financial and Strategic Measures Monthly Formal Review of Placements (Closer to Home Board): Reviewing all current residential placements for children attending mainstream schools to ensure appropriateness. Alignment with Sufficiency Strategy: Actions linked to the Placement Commissioning strategy, including cost avoidance and maximising Welsh Government grant funding. Including the development of in-house residential Provision across the County. Workforce and Service Resilience • Recruitment and Training: Targeted recruitment of registered managers and carers, alongside training to support new commissioning models. • Regional Collaboration: Working with neighbouring authorities to maintain placement resilience and share best practice. All matters around our placement sufficiency strategy are regularly discussed at the Health and Care Scrutiny committee and other forums.
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