This report presents the findings of a review of the international evidence on approaches to managing placement provision for children and young peopled looked after, identifying key areas for further analysis.
We identify five key areas of divergence between the countries studied which would be suitable for further exploration:
- The balance between reunification and permanence.
- The incorporation of the voice of children and families in placement decisions.
- The balance between state, private and third sector provision
- The types of placement services
- The approach to strategic commissioning
Although there are important differences between the countries studied, all face many similar challenges. For example, there was concern in all countries about the costs of care and the availability of suitable placements. No country can be said to have ‘solved’ the problem of strategic commissioning.
Read all our work on children looked after here.