Social services chiefs have been ordered to crackdown on the number of young people in care being sent to costly placements out of the Bradford district.

Members of Bradford's services to children sub committee met to consider the crisis facing the district's care system. The cash problem of social services in the district was revealed last week in the Telegraph & Argus.

The budget for out-of-district placements in special units for disturbed youngsters has already been spent for this financial year and at the current rate will be £2.5 million in the red by next March. It costs £2,000 a week on average to house youngsters in specialised units where they can receive one-to-one support from staff. Councillors have agreed to introduce new, stricter criteria.

In future it will only be allowed in cases where there is a "demonstrable and significant" risk to the young person themselves, and when they cannot be maintained safely in a Bradford placement. But the authority has no control over the costs where youngsters are remanded to secure accommodation by a youth court.

Councillor Val McMath, chairman of the committee, said: "We can't be complacent about this situation and a number of proposals have been included in our management plan. We are keeping an eye on the situation and a further report will come out in due course."

Social services bosses are also considering reopening a children's home to provide places for a handful of youngsters. But they say the thing that could make the biggest impression would be if more Bradfordians came forward as foster parents.

The number of foster placements has declined in recent years while the numbers of children entering the care system has gone up by ten per cent.

Coun McMath added: "It's generally felt that it's better for children to be in a family situation, either in their own families with us giving support, or in a foster family.

"We are making great steps to try and recruit people as foster carers and have run campaigns with the help of the T&A and Bradford Bulls."

To find out more about how you can help, contact the Council's Adoption and Fostering Unit on (01274) 754331.

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