The number of children in care in Stockport has risen significantly due to the cost of living crisis and the fallout from Covid-19. Before the pandemic, the number of ‘looked after children’ in the borough was around the 350 mark - but that has now increased to nearly 500 councillors were told this week.
A town hall scrutiny meeting heard the authority’s children and family services was on course for a £4.6m deficit - with ‘child looked after placements’ accounting for 82pc of that figure. Michael Cullen, the council deputy chief executive, told members he was concerned the council’s overall deficit may ‘grow significantly’ over the financial year - noting he had ‘not seen such volatility and risk within local government finance’ in his 30-year career to date.
And he said current economic conditions were having an impact on ‘the financial resilience’ of families which was ‘manifesting itself in a number of looked after children.’ The council tries to support families so children can stay at home, or into foster care with external care places being ‘a last resort’ Mr Cullen added.
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