What needs are unmet?
Strategic Issue 1
Hartlepool’s looked after children population is shifting toward the age groups with the strongest predictors of care entry nationally suggesting increasing complexity and support needs which need to be met.
Strategic Issue 2
There is an increasing reliance of private and voluntary-sector placements, a significant growth in high-need placement types and rising out-of-boundary and over 20-mile placements, suggesting a need to address placement types.
Strategic Issue 3
High levels of socioeconomic deprivation in Hartlepool increase the risk of children becoming looked after, there is a need for prevention.