IMPOWER - Valuing Care: Using data to improve children and young people's lives
This report, produced by IMPOWER, explores data-driven approaches in children's social care.
The County Councils Network’s Valuing Care report, produced with IMPOWER, examines how data‑driven commissioning can improve outcomes for children in care while addressing severe financial and sufficiency pressures.
The report’s findings are based on case analysis of over 3,500 children across CCN member authorities suggests that the care market is not aligned to children’s needs, contributing to escalating placement costs and threatening councils’ sustainability.
The report demonstrates how a needs‑led approach can rebalance the system, support more children to live in families, and reduce reliance on high‑cost placements.
Recommendations for local authorities include:
- Use shared data to shape regional care markets and sufficiency planning.
- Apply needs‑based intelligence to identify opportunities for reunification and family placements.
- Strengthen multi‑agency collaboration across social care, education and health.
- Embed data‑led evaluation of care impact.
- Develop a national framework standardising data on needs and costs.