A NEW fostering service for children in Monmouthshire and Blaenau Gwent will not just be a ‘cost-cutting exercise’, councillors have heard.

Monmouthshire and Blaenau Gwent councils want to create therapeutic environments within their respective authorities in which to place their most troubled and traumatised children and young people.

Under the proposals, specially trained foster carers would support and look after children who may have trouble forming trusting relationships or suffer with behaviour or emotional issues.

Julie Boothroyd, chief officer for social care in Monmouthshire, described the proposals as an ‘important step forward’ in addressing complex cases locally and not relying on costly out-of-county placements.

But a report discussed by the council’s children and young people select committee on Wednesday focused on the scheme’s financial arrangements, according to Lib Dem councillor Jo Watkins.

The two authorities are currently spending a combined £4.2 million to place 18 youngsters in residential care who have had difficulties with other care and foster home arrangements.

“These are children in care put into an [out-of-county] residential placement, which is very secure, then taking them back into the county,” said Cllr Watkins.

“I want us to be clear that we’ve got their needs very much at the heart of what we’re looking at, rather than it being a cost-cutting exercise.”

Ms Boothroyd suggested that children were not experiencing ‘good outcomes’ at out-of-county placements, adding that the placements were ‘not value for money’.

“This is not just a cost-cutting exercise, this is about quality outcomes for children,” said Ms Boothroyd.

“The idea is that we can bring children back into Monmouthshire with the appropriate therapy, it’s about giving children a life in Monmouthshire.”

The meeting heard that each child within the new service would receive therapeutic care tailored to their needs and issues.

Wraparound care will also be provided, with foster carers and families given extra support to make sure they ‘never feel on their own’.

Torfaen and Caerphilly councils already use MIST (Multi-disciplinary Intervention Service Torfaen), which councillors were told was ‘very successful’.

Labour councillor Tudor Thomas said he was ‘very reassured’ with the provision of wraparound care and the opportunity to bring children back into Monmouthshire.

“My main issue is the best care of those youngsters and that it’s not coming down to a balance sheet,” said Cllr Thomas.

“I’m not terribly happy having to send [children] long distances and then monitoring them, in a sense, by remote control.”

Conservative councillor Penny Jones, cabinet member for social services, told the meeting that she had met a local child placed in Manchester last week.

Children in council care were invited to Hilston Park Outdoor Education Centre near Monmouth to take part in activities such as climbing, orienteering, archery, raft building and cycling.

“The child was brought down by a residential care manager to join in the Monmouthshire day, and that was how important it was to her,” said Cllr Jones.

“They were driving straight back afterwards which is some commitment, but how much more appropriate would it be to have that child within Monmouthshire.”