CROSS BOUNDARY LOOKED-AFTER CHILDREN

<p>That this House congratulates Lancashire County Council's scrutiny committee on its report into the problems of cross boundary placements entitled Who Cares; notes that of 64,000 young people in care nationally around one-third are looked afterbythe children's services of one authority yet reside within the geographical boundaries of another; is concerned that local authorities are failing to notify other authorities that they have placed a child in their area; further notes the evidence that these young people are more likely to slip through support systems, more likely to go missing from care and education than other looked-after children and to experience poorer outcomes; believes that this report makes a major contribution to the understanding of the issues around cross boundary placements; and calls for further research to be undertaken in this area so that outcomes for all looked-after children can be improved.</p>