11.05.20
County Councils to receive extra £1.1m to support children in care
Norfolk County Council has announced today (May 11) that it is due to receive a funding package of an additional £1.1m from the Department for Education (DfE) to further support its work with young people in care and their families.
The Council, in partnership with Essex and Hertfordshire County Councils, originally launched its pilot project, Inside Out, in Essex in 2018 to deliver more stability for children and young people in care and has since been rolled out in Norfolk and Hertfordshire.
Inside Out aims to support children back to their homes or a less intensive level of care where possible, through work with dedicated coaching that remain with them throughout their journey in care.
Cllr John Fisher, Norfolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:
“This has been a tremendously positive project for young people in Norfolk and it will be fantastic to be able to extend it further to support more young people who need it.
“Inside Out works alongside our transformation work in Norfolk, with a focus on supporting placement stability and children and young people moving back to being cared for within a family.
“Young people have told us that they feel supported and listened to by those working for the project and really value the help it has given them.”
The work that has already been achieved in giving stability to young people in care will be extended thanks to today’s funding announcement.
Cllr Teresa Heritage, Hertfordshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families said:
“Hertfordshire County Council is proud to be a partner in the Inside Out project and we have been very pleased to see the positive outcomes.
“The additional funding is very welcome, not least because of the current lockdown situation where coronavirus amplifies the need for family stability and reassurance. We hope to see our teams continue to build upon the success to date to provide the best futures for our children, young people and families.”