A Growing Crisis: Why Kent Seeks Urgent Government Action
Kent County Council (KCC) has issued a call for urgent government intervention to address significant financial and operational pressures facing its Children’s Services. This plea stems from two overlapping but distinct challenges: the underfunding of support for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking (UAS) Care Leavers, particularly those over the age of 21, and the role Kent plays as a national hub for out-of-county children looked after by other councils, notably from London.
Behind the ‘Good’ Rating: Unseen Pressures on Care Leavers
While KCC’s overall Children’s Services have maintained ‘Good’ and ‘Outstanding’ ratings in Ofsted inspections, the Care Leavers service received a ‘Requires Improvement’ rating in the latest report. Officials explain this rating reflects challenges related to supporting young people in complex and unprecedented circumstances, many linked to pressures beyond Kent’s immediate control.
KCC stresses that the inspection did not fully take into account the council’s unique responsibilities in supporting a growing number of UAS Care Leavers, especially those who have remained beyond the typical 21-year age cut-off for funding. The existing Ofsted framework, they argue, does not capture the full context of Kent’s role in accommodating children who arrived through a National Transfer Scheme (NTS) that has faced long-term challenges in fair distribution and resourcing.
The Legacy Burden: Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers and the Funding Cliff
Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking children often require ongoing support well into their twenties as they integrate and transition into adulthood. Kent has cared for a significant number of these children over the past decade. However, while the government’s National Transfer Scheme intends to ensure responsibility and funding are shared across local authorities, Kent remains shouldering a disproportionate burden, particularly with ‘legacy’ cases—young people who arrived years ago but remain dependent on support.
Crucially, government funding for UAS Care Leavers stops entirely once they reach 21 years old, despite many still requiring substantial assistance to secure accommodation, education, and employment. This funding gap leaves KCC to fund these vital services from its own resources, creating a sustained financial strain and jeopardising the quality and consistency of care available.
Kent as a National Hub: The Impact of Out-of-County Placements
In addition to challenges with UAS Care Leavers, Kent hosts over 1,300 looked-after children placed by other councils, primarily those in London. This arrangement, while designed to support vulnerable children by placing them in suitable environments, places significant pressure on Kent’s social care teams, local schools, health services, and the housing market.
The sudden influx can lead to stretched capacity in foster care and residential settings, increased demand for educational resources, social workers, mental health support, and other specialist services. Moreover, the longer travel distances and complex histories of many placed children increase the challenges of integrating and meeting their needs fully.
The Financial Strain: What This Costs Kent Taxpayers
KCC estimates that the combined effect of these pressures results in a multi-million-pound funding shortfall annually. The lack of government funding to cover care for UAS Care Leavers over 21, coupled with hosting large numbers of children placed out-of-county without adequate reimbursement, has led to what council leaders describe as an unsustainable financial burden.
For local taxpayers, this means their council tax is effectively subsidising services beyond Kent’s population size and capacity, with the county effectively absorbing costs that should be shared nationally or reimbursed by placing authorities. These funding gaps not only limit the council’s ability to invest in other essential services but also risk affecting the quality of care and support offered to vulnerable children and young people.
KCC’s Urgent Demands: A Blueprint for a Fairer System
To address these challenges, KCC has outlined clear demands to the government designed to create a sustainable, fair, and national approach to funding and supporting vulnerable children. These include:
- Faster asylum claims processing to reduce prolonged dependency on local services.
- A revised and transparent funding formula that covers the full cost of care for UAS Care Leavers, including those over 21 years of age.
- Provision of adequate accommodation and support tailored to the needs of UAS young people transitioning to adulthood.
- Development of a sustainable national model that distributes the responsibility for UAS children and Care Leavers more evenly across councils.
- Action against councils that continue to place looked-after children out-of-area without proper support or contribution to costs.
Voices from the Frontline: KCC Leaders Speak Out
Linden Kemkaran, Leader of Kent County Council, highlights the extraordinary pressures the county faces: “Kent is dealing with a perfect storm. The combination of legacy asylum cases, ongoing underfunding, and large numbers of out-of-county placements is not sustainable. This is not just a local issue; it is a national responsibility that requires urgent government action.”
Chris Palmer, Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services, adds, “Our teams are working tirelessly to provide the best outcomes for vulnerable young people despite severe resource constraints. Without proper funding and system reform, the quality of care and the future of these children are at risk. The government must act to prevent long-term damage to Kent’s services and the hundreds of young people who depend on them.”
Looking Ahead: What This Means for Kent’s Future
The current situation holds serious implications for Kent residents and vulnerable children alike. Continued underfunding risks escalating pressures on schools, social care, health services, and housing, with taxpayers facing an increasing financial burden as KCC diverts funds to cover these gaps.
Conversely, a fairer national approach with sufficient resources could stabilise Kent’s Children’s Services, ensuring high-quality care and support for all children and young people, including UAS Care Leavers. Furthermore, by distributing responsibilities more evenly across the country and improving asylum processing, councils like Kent can focus on delivering the best outcomes for their communities without bearing an unfair share of the financial weight.
For Kent’s future, the message from KCC is clear: timely government intervention and reform are essential to protect vulnerable children and maintain the sustainability of vital local services.
