MORE than a quarter of Thurrock children in care have to be placed outside the borough because of a shortage of foster carers, it has been revealed.

At the end of March 2024, 72 per cent of looked after children were placed within 20 miles or less from their homes, which represents 209 out of 290 children.

However, 72 children, 28 per cent, had to placed more than 20 miles from their families, latest figures show. This is worse than the national average of 21 per cent and worse than Thurrock's statistical neighbours at 23 per cent.

Speaking at a corporate parenting committee meeting, Cllr Neil Speight, Independent councillor for Stanford-le-Hope West, said: "We are failing in that we have got 28 per cent against the target.

"We have a fairly myopic marketing plan to get foster carers into Thurrock. There's some really attractive financial packages. We are making the effort there, but one in four of our kids are still outside the borough."

Cllr Speight added: "Neighbouring authorities are looking at Thurrock as an area where they can recruit foster carers.

"We in turn have to be sending our kids further afield which isn't going to help with their care and rehabilitation and keeping them in touch with their families. If they are shipped out a long way away to be cared for it's less likely they are going to have that constant contact with family."

Cllr Speight said the current financial crisis affecting Thurrock Council shouldn't affect children's services which "should be ring-fenced" and protected from financial problems. Nevertheless he said he beleived there had been cancelled recruitment events.

Janet Simon, assistant director, children's social care and early help said her department had not been asked to make significant cuts in terms of recruitment. She said Thurrock took part in a regional recruitment drive but "can't prevent private fostering agencies from recruiting in Thurrock".

She added: "We don't want children to be outside of Thurrock either. There are going to be some children that are outside of the area because they will have specialist needs and there maybe placements they need that we can't provide. We've got a very good recruitment team that work very hard."