SANDWELL Council bosses are pleading for extra government cash to support vulnerable youngsters in its care as the service faces another multi-million overspend. 

The call for more funds comes in a bleak warning on the financial future of the Children’s Trust which bailed out by £5 million in June last year.

That emergency payment came after the number of children in care rocketed from 600 to almost 900 in two years.

Now, in a stark assessment to councillors, finance officers warn: “If the rate of demand and pressures on children’s social care (experienced nationally and locally) continue to increase at the same or at a higher rate than that experienced during 2017/18, then without a national funding solution and improved children’s social care services, this will have a detrimental impact on the financial resilience of Sandwell Children’s Trust.”

In September Jacqui Smith, Chair of the Trust, predicted a £2.3 million overspend by March as she revealed plans to make £14 million savings in the service over four years.

At the time, it was hoped the number of youngsters taken into care was levelling out but the latest forecast suggests it has continued to rise.

In an assessment to members of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee,  council officers state the increase in numbers is a national problem, adding:  “The failure to put in place a national solution to this problem is presenting a risk to many councils. It is to be hoped that government understands this and takes action as part of the comprehensive spending review.”

But the government has said it is already making more money available to councils.

Luke Hall MP, local government minister, said the latest finance settlement to authorities: “Delivers significant extra resources to the priority areas of adult and children’s social care: an extra £1 billion of grant across adult and children’s services, plus an additional £500 million from a two per cent council tax adult social care precept.”