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18 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Children in Care
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136 <h1>
136 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Children in Care
136 </h1>
141 <div class="well">
142 <p class="bold">
142 RELATED GUIDANCE
143 </p>
144 <p>
144 <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/securing-sufficient-accommodation-for-looke
d-after-children" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
144 Statutory Guidance on Securing Sufficient Accommodation for Looked After Children (2010)
144 </a>
144 </p>
144 </div>
151 <div class="section">
152 <h2 id="what_is_sufficiency_duty">
152 1. What is the Sufficiency Duty?
152 </h2>
153 <p>
153 Each Local Authority providing children's services must now take steps that secure, so far
as reasonably practicable, sufficient accommodation within its area to meet the needs of
children that it is looking after and children whose circumstances are such that it would be
consistent with their welfare for them to be provided with accommodation in the local
authority area. This is referred to as 'the sufficiency duty'.
153 </p>
154 <p>
154 The sufficiency duty, therefore, applies in respect of all children who are looked after.
However, it also applies to children in need who are at risk of care or custody (sometimes
referred to as children 'on the edge of care'). This acknowledges the importance - both for
improving outcomes for children and in having sufficient accommodation to meet their needs -
of taking earlier, preventive action to support children and families so that fewer children
become Looked After.
154 </p>
155 <p>
155 From April 2010, local authorities had to include in relevant commissioning strategies their
plans for meeting the sufficiency duty.
155 </p>
156 <p>
156 From April 2011, working with their Children's Trust partners, local authorities must be in
a position to carry out the sufficiency duty.
156 </p>
157 </div>
158 <div class="section1">
158 </div>
164 <div class="section">
164 <h2 id="most_approp_place">
164 2. The Most Appropriate Placement
164 </h2>
165 <p>
165 Children should not be moved from out of authority placements for the sole purpose of
meeting the sufficiency duty if their needs are being met by the existing range of services.
165 </p>
166 <p>
166 The overriding factor is that the placement must be the most appropriate placement
available. Next, preference must be given to a placement with a friend, relative or other
person connected with the child and who is a local authority foster carer. Failing that, a
placement must be found, so far as reasonably practicable in all circumstances, that:
166 </p>
167 <ul>
168 <li>
168 Is near the child's home;
168 </li>
169 <li>
169 Does not disrupt their education or training;
169 </li>
170 <li>
170 Enables the child to live with an accommodated sibling;
170 </li>
171 <li>
171 Where the child is disabled, is suitable to meet the needs of that child; and
171 </li>
172 <li>
172 Is within the local authority's area, unless that is not reasonably practicable.
172 </li>
173 </ul>
174 <p>
174 There is no order of priority within the categories listed in the bullet points above. All
of these are factors that have to be taken into account. For example, if placing a child
within their area conflicted with placing them near home or with a sibling, or which
disrupted their education, the local authority could justify placing the child out of area
if this met their needs more effectively than a placement within the area.
174 </p>
175 <p>
175 For the majority of Looked After children, the 'most appropriate placement' will be within
the local authority area. For those children who require highly specialist services, or
children for whom there is a safeguarding issue, it may be more appropriate for them to be
placed in a neighbouring local authority area.
175 </p>
176 <p>
176 When making decisions about the most appropriate placements for children requiring more
specialised provision, the issue of proximity to the home area must be considered, alongside
the other factors set above. Wherever possible, children requiring such provision should be
placed as close to their existing family networks and support systems as is possible and
appropriate.
176 </p>
177 <p>
177 If challenged by a child, family, social worker, children's guardian, independent reviewing
officer (IRO) or other advocate, a local authority should be in a position to demonstrate
how, working with its Children Trust partners, it has done all that is reasonably
practicable to secure sufficiency. Plans should be documented and published, within the
commissioning strategy or the Children and Young People's Plan, to allow scrutiny and
challenge.
177 </p>
178 </div>
179 <div class="section1">
179 </div>
185 <div class="section">
185 <h2 id="reasonably_practicable">
185 3. How can 'Reasonably Practicable' be Assessed?
185 </h2>
186 <p>
186 The sufficiency duty is a general duty that applies to strategic arrangements rather than to
the provision of accommodation for a particular, individual child. Local authorities must be
able to show that - at strategic level - they are taking steps to meet the sufficiency duty,
so far as is 'reasonably practicable'.
186 </p>
187 <p>
187 It should not be assumed that it is 'not reasonably practicable' to secure appropriate
accommodation simply because it is difficult to do so or because the authority does not have
the resources to do so. Any constraining factors should not be taken as permanent
constraints on the local authority's requirements to comply with the sufficiency duty.
187 </p>
188 <p>
188 In assessing whether they are doing all that is 'reasonably practicable' to secure
sufficiency, there are a number of factors which local authorities, working with their
Children's Trust partners, may wish to take into account, for example:
188 </p>
189 <ul>
190 <li>
190 Current progress within an effective, phased programme to meet the sufficiency duty;
190 </li>
191 <li>
191 The number of children for whom a local placement is not consistent with their needs and
welfare;
191 </li>
192 <li>
192 The extent to which local universal services meet needs;
192 </li>
193 <li>
193 The state of the local market for accommodation, including the level of demand in a
particular locality and the amount and type of supply that currently exists;
193 </li>
194 <li>
194 The degree to which they are actively managing this market;
194 </li>
195 <li>
195 The resources available to, and capabilities of, accommodation providers (where
'resources' means not just the available funding but also staff and premises, and
'capabilities' includes experience and expertise); and
195 </li>
196 <li>
196 The Children's Trust's resources, capabilities and overall budget priorities.
196 </li>
197 </ul>
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