Fostering service to get cash

6:51pm Monday 12th May 2008

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A CASH injection of around £600,000 has been provided to turn around Lancashire County Council's inadequate' fostering service.

Last November the council's services for vulnerable youngsters were the subject of a damning report by Ofsted.

County Hall officials were criticised for not ensuring criminal records checks on people living with looked-after children.

And other failings, such as managers' lack of knowledge of regulations and current best practice, and too many foster placements not being suitable for youngsters' needs, also came under fire.

The service, overseen by Burnley West county councillor Marcus Johnstone, has drawn up a series of proposals to address the shortcomings including appointing an addtional two independent reviewing officers to monitor county council placements and setting aside £350,000 to reduce the amount of agency cover used by the service.

County Coun John Stone, cabinet member for young people, said: "This is a measure of how seriously we take our responsibility to put right those areas that were highlighted by the inspection."