Hull City Council has been recognised nationally, winning silver at the prestigious Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards for its ‘All With Us’ programme.
The work, led by children’s homes within the council’s children, young people and family services, and delivered in partnership with housing services and also colleagues at the Integrated Care Board, was honoured in the Health and Social Care category and was one of three which the council was shortlisted for.
The ‘All With Us’ programme is the council’s response to the national challenge of children in care living far from home in costly and unstable placements.
It focuses on increasing the number of children’s homes in Hull, helping more children in care stay close to their families, communities and support networks.
Back in 2017, Hull had just six children’s homes, meaning children were being placed in living situations far from the city, resulting in a lack of stability in aspects such as education and family for those most in need.
This has been expanded now to 17 homes offering 48 placements, a unique multi-service partnership across the council’s housing, planning, finance and health departments.
This helps to reconnect children with families, schools and communities, in addition to saving £1.8m annually for the council due to less reliance on external provision.
Cllr Linda Tock, portfolio children’s service at the council, said: “This is fantastic and well-deserved recognition for the tremendous work our children’s homes and safeguarding team does.
“Since All With Us was launched, the scheme has improved year on year and that is down to the dedication and kindness of our team.
“Congratulations to them on the award and I look forward to hearing more success stories coming out of All With Us.”
The LGC award follows on from the council’s children’s services receiving its strongest Ofsted judgement ever in May, with inspectors highlighting overall good practice with areas of outstanding practice.