Children's care scheme expansion welcomed

OPPOSITION councillors in Leeds have welcomed the expansion of a project to try to reduce the number of children being taken into care.

Liberal Democrats say the introduction of the "family group conference" service across the city in September follows a pilot they successfully championed in South Leeds when in office.

The approach identifies children who could go into care as early as possible.

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Then, Council departments, the police, or other support agencies set up individual conferences involving each family, where pertinent issues are identified and discussed.

Officials also provide information about the children and outline other services and support they can make available.

Independent co-ordinators are also appointed to work with each family.

The action plans – drawn up by the families themselves – are then followed by other organisations unless they place children in further danger.

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The approach has been tested in South Leeds since December 2008. There, 18 families took part and in only one instance was a child taken into care.

Expanding the service will cost 172,500 this year.

Councillor Stewart Golton, the leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on the Council said: "During my time in charge of children's services and as a councillor in the pilot area, I saw first hand the success of this approach in preventing vulnerable children going into care.

"I am pleased that the new administration is sticking by our policy to extend the family group conference programme across the city.

"The key to the success of this approach is it makes sure that the child's family are the ones making the decisions.

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"The Council and other agencies play a facilitating role, but the plan is drawn up by the family alone.

"This is a very empowering process and means that the measures they agree have a much greater chance of being followed through and succeeding," he said.

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