Lancashire’s focused approach to placement sufficiency has delivered measurable improvements in a short period. By March 2025, the number of children living in unregistered homes had halved, and the number living in high‑cost agency placements (£7,500+ per week) had reduced by 45%, including a 47% drop in very high‑cost homes (£9k+ per week). At the same time, average weekly costs were stabilised—rising just 1.8%, compared with a 13.9% regional increase—and more children were able to stay closer to home, with 73% of agency home placements located within Lancashire, up from 63% the previous year. This guide outlines how these improvements were achieved and what other authorities can learn from Lancashire’s approach.
