A document has come across my desk from Oxfordshire County Council, with opportunities for private providers of foster care and children’s homes. Not confidential, but not widely circulated. An insight into the dysfunctional ‘market’ for these services. 1/
As you read this, bear in mind that Oxfordshire is a relatively affluent county and the county council is considered to be well managed. This is no outlier. 2/
Despite this, the proportion of children in care unable to remain in Oxfordshire, close to their families, has increased from 25% to 40%. 3/ 
Grim for children but profitable business for privately-owned foster care agencies. Be aware that the in-house provision includes around 140 kinship carers, so the proportion of local authority foster carers is actually lower than these figures suggest. 4/
Just 14 children live in children’s homes run by Oxfordshire. 110 live in properties that are privately-owned. The AVERAGE fee for this is now more than £4,000 a week. 5/
This five-year forecast seems hopelessly optimistic, both in terms of how many children will be in care and how many will be cared for by the local authority. 6/
This is how far from their home address children are being sent to live (figures for the south east but Oxfordshire happy to cite them, so presumably not far out of line for the county). 7
This shocked me: Expressions of interest are invited for unregistered placements FOR UNDER-16 YEAR OLDS.
God only knows how this is still legal 8/
God only knows how this is still legal 8/
The most dispiriting take-away here is the absence of any real determination to build Oxfordshire’s own provision of foster care or children’s homes. This is despite the millions of pounds that could be saved while doing better for children in their own communities. 9/
Meanwhile, private equity firms in tax havens continue to make millions out of children in care, and their representatives get a seat at the top table when Government is deciding what to do with the care system. 10/
Here is @theNAFP punting business opportunities to its members in Edinburgh and Cumbria today, as well as Oxfordshire. 11/
They are still unable to agree a 'brief' statement on #BlackLivesMatter , which tells you all you need to know, really. 12/
Finally, Oxfordshire is no different to any other local authority with responsibility for children's services. This is happening on our watch, and in our name. ends/
