Fostering hub expansion aimed at 'better outcomes'
PA MediaA council has agreed to take part in an expansion of a regional fostering hub, which aims to provide "better outcomes for children".
Hartlepool Borough Council's children's services committee gave the authority the green light to join the Foster with North East plan.
The move will offer "more opportunities to keep children close to Hartlepool", executive director of children's services Alison Sutherland said.
Council officers said the decision would also bring "greater efficiency".
They said joining the regional service would "support improved recruitment and retention of foster carers, better placement stability and better outcomes for children, whilst also delivering greater efficiency and value for money".
It comes amid the "significant and current challenges that we face locally and nationally in securing sufficient, high-quality placements for children in our care, alongside the rising financial pressures driven by market modelling", they added.
The expansion builds on an existing scheme which has been in operation since 2023, involving all 12 councils in the North East.
Chris Rooney, council head of safeguarding assessment and support, said it was a "really, really good step in the right direction".
He added there would be more centralised support and increased resources.
The Reform UK-led council will still have control over kinship care and connected carers, which is where children are placed with assessed family or family friends, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The plan was praised by councillors on the children's services committee, who approved Hartlepool taking part in the expanded regional hub.
Labour councillor Brenda Harrison said: "I think the more help that we can get and support we can get the better for the very good service that we already give."
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