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<p>Local authorities are responsible for ensuring there are sufficient places to meet
the needs of looked after children in their area, including commissioning places from
private or voluntary sector providers as required. They are responsible for agreeing
prices with providers accordingly.</p><p>The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
has launched a market study that will examine the lack of availability and increasing
costs in children’s social care provision. The CMA is examining concerns around high
prices paid by local authorities, specifically prices charged by providers and variation
between prices paid for similar types of placements.</p><p>The government has also
committed to undertaking a widescale review of children’s social care, taking a fundamental
look at the needs, experiences and outcomes of the children it supports, and what
is needed to make a real difference. The review will be bold, broad, and independently
led, taking a fundamental look across children’s social care, with the aim of better
supporting, protecting, and improving the outcomes of vulnerable children and young
people. The review will be evidenced based and bring together a broad range of expertise.</p><p>The
government will study the findings and recommendations of both reviews carefully when
they report next year.</p>
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