Rotherham MP Sarah Champion secures Government debate on crisis in children’s social care

ROTHERHAM MP Sarah Champion has secured a parliamentary debate on the growing crisis in children’s care services.

The MP will set out the challenges facing Rotherham and the Government’s failure to support Rotherham Borough Council in meeting the unique circumstances it faces as a result of gang related child sexual exploitation.

On Tuesday, Ms Champion will point to the impact of Operation Stovewood — the National Crime Agency’s investigation into past child sexual exploitation in Rotherham. 

She will tell MPs that Operation Stovewood has placed “unprecedented and unbudgeted” additional pressures on Rotherham Borough Council.

RMBC has estimated that the investigation currently created an additional financial pressure of £3.8m on the children’s service budget — but no additional money had been given to it.

Ms Champion is also set to argue that the recently announced additional funding to assist councils across England and Wales with rising numbers of children in care risks penalising good practice. The Department for Education has indicated the majority of the £85m of announced funding is likely to go to councils that Ofsted has deemed to be ‘requiring improvement’. Rotherham Council, which has been awarded a ‘good’ rating, is therefore unlikely to benefit. 

Ms Champion said: “It is outrageous that Rotherham, after working so hard and in such incredibly challenging circumstances, isn’t rewarded for its success, it is punished. 

“Funding should follow the greatest need and, with the third largest increase in the number of children in care of all local authorities, it’s hard to argue more support isn’t needed.”

She added: “I am relieved to have secured this important debate and the vital opportunity it provides to set out to the Government the real scale of these problems. Rotherham faces unique challenges. But it also has to deal with the real and widespread pressures affecting children’s service across the country. 

“The Government has a responsibility to ensure that councils are equipped to meet the demands they face and I hope that they will not continue to turn a blind eye to the crisis developing on its watch.”