THE number of children going into adoption and foster placements outside of East Lancashire has risen.

An investigation by the Lancashire Telegraph has revealed 301 children were taken into out of Lancashire County Council authority care in 2014, compared to 417 in 2018.

In 2014, the number of children taken out of the authority area was 27.8 per cent of the total 1083 children in the care system.

This percentage increased to 30.5 per cent by 2018, with 1367 children in care.

In 2015 the number of children in care dropped to 1005, with only 245 having to go out of the authority area.

However the number of children in care jumped up to 1145 in 2016, with 340 leaving the authority.

County Cllr Phillippa Williamson, the county council's cabinet member for children, young people and schools said more children are having to be placed in children's homes outside of Lancashire because of the high demand for places.

Blackburn with Darwen's figures stayed relatively similar in the last five years, coming down from 25 children in 2014 to 23 last year.

County Cllr Williamson said: "There are many reasons why children come into care, and this would also be the case for the children who are placed out of area.

"However the main reason that children come in to our care is neglect.

"This is likely to be the case for all children, irrespective of where they are placed.

"50 per cent of our agency children's home placements are outside of Lancashire.

"Again, the majority of these placements are in the north west, 81 per cent, with three per cent placed just over the border in North Yorkshire.

"11 per cent have been placed further away.

"Reasons for this include the available facilities enable our children to access more specialist care, for safeguarding reasons or to enable contact with family members who live in these areas.

The authority compares well to national figures. As of March, 76.7 per cent children in care were placed within the authority area ­— compared to the national 58 per cent.

The county council said it has no control over agency children's home providers, which can lead to children being placed in other local authorities.

County Cllr Williamson said: "We have no control over who agency children's home providers choose to place in their homes.

"This can obviously be very frustrating for us, but we are addressing this by working closely with three providers to develop specific provision that will be used exclusively for children and young people from Lancashire.

"We are also currently working with other local authorities to see how we can work more collaboratively together so that we can place more local children with local carers.

"The reality is that we need more people to come forward and we make strenuous efforts to achieve this and to attract them.

"However, that said, there will always be a need to place some children out of Lancashire."

A group of foster carers were recently presented with special long service awards after dedicating a combined 200 years to helping young people in Blackburn with Darwen.

Sylvia and Dave Coulthard are the longest serving foster carers of the group with 40 years of experience.

Mrs Coulthard said: "It began when I had to give up full time nursing to look after my young son.

"Dave and I felt that fostering could be something that we could both enjoy, and it would help make a difference to the lives of these children.

"We found that we really enjoyed being foster carers and have over the years dealt with babies through to young adults."

Over the four decades, the couple, who have been together since they were 15 years old, have helped a staggering 200 youngsters.

The couple received their awards alongside Tracey and Anthony Matthews with 30 years fostering experience, Anne Loughlin, 10 years, Gulam and Bilkis Patel, 10 years, Sharon and Craig Wakes, 10 years, Bernie and Tony Woods, 10 years, Sam Briggs 10 years and Joan Connelly, also 10 years.

Blackburn with Darwen councillor Maureen Bateson, executive member for children, young people and education, said: “Any short or long term placement of children in our care must always be based on the individual needs of the child to make sure they are matched with the most stable, loving environment for their needs and emotional wellbeing.

"Children are only placed outside of our area if it is in their best interests, for example to live with extended family members, because they need a specialist placement or because there is a foster placement well matched to their needs.

"Information is always shared across local authorities and the main priority for all authorities and agencies is the wellbeing and care of the children."